# Accident 20011108030549A: Smith AEROSTAR 601, Danville, IL, November 8, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 8, 2001, 11:45 local time
- Place: Danville, IL
- Airport: Vermilion County
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.1510° N, 87.6703° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1510&lon=-87.6703&mi=10
- Aircraft: N128AC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N128AC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Smith AEROSTAR 601 (registry code 8360606, https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-601) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI02LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA022) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011108030549A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON NOVEMBER 8, 2001, ABOUT 11:45 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A SMITH AEROSTAR 601, N128AC, PILOTED BY A COMMERCIAL PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING LANDING ON RUNWAY 34 (3,999 FEET BY 100 FEET, ASPHALT) AT THE VERMILLION COUNTY AIRPORT, DANVILLE, ILLINOIS. THE 14 CFR PART 91 POSITIONING FLIGHT WAS ON AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT PLAN AND WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE PILOT, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE GENERAL MITCHELL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ABOUT 1045. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY. UPON INSPECTION, THE LANDING GEAR SCISSOR ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE UPPER MOUNTING COLLAR ON THE LANDING GEAR STRUT AND THE LOWER STRUT WAS ROTATED ABOUT 90 DEGREES. (.19) ON NOVEMBER 8, 2001, ABOUT 1200 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A SMITH AEROSTAR 601, N128AC, PILOTED BY A COMMERCIAL PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING LANDING ON RUNWAY 34 (3,999 FEET BY 100 FEET, ASPHALT) AT THE VERMILLION COUNTY AIRPORT, DANVILLE, ILLINOIS. THE 14 CFR PART 91 POSITIONING FL                                              IGHT WAS ON AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT PLAN AND WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE PILOT, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE GENERAL MITCHELL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ABOUT 1045. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF OF THE RUNWAY. UPON INSPECTION, THE LANDING GEAR SCISSOR ASSEMELY WAS FOUND BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE UPPER MOUNTING COLLAR ON THE LANDING GEAR STRUT AND THE LOWER STRUT WAS ROTATED ABOUT 90 DEGREES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI02LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA022), Nov 8, 2001: Smith Aerostar 601 (N128AC), Danville, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The separation of the main landing gear scissor assembly during landing for undetermined reasons, resulting in the directional control of the airplane not being possible.

## Other reports on N128AC (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19930516018619I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930516018619I), May 16, 1993: Piper PA60601 (N128AC), Malden, MO, Minor damage. Door warning light on in flight. Lost index finger when door opened. Landed safely. Taken to hospital.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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