# Accident 20120324003739A: Smith AEROSTAR 601P, Castroville, TX, March 24, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 24, 2012, 10:20 local time
- Place: Castroville, TX
- Airport: Castroville Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.3405° N, 98.8701° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3405&lon=-98.8701&mi=10
- Aircraft: N602BV, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N602BV-2015-03-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Smith AEROSTAR 601P (registry code 8360608, https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-601p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SMITH AEROSTAR 601P
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,402 total, 242 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12CA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA202) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120324003739A

## Narrative

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

THE FAR 91 IFR FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM KAXH WITH INTENDED DESTINATION OF KCVB.  DURING THE FIRST APPROACH TO KCVB, PILOT STATED HE WAS TO FAR TO THE RIGHT OF CENTER-LINE RUNWAY 15 AND DECIDED TO ABORT AND PERFORM A LEFT CIRCLE TO LAND MANUEVER.  DURING THE SECOND ATTEMPT TO LAND, WHILE TURNING LEFT BASE TO FINAL, THE AIRCRAFT LOST LIFT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND.  THE LEFT HAND WING CONTACTED THE GROUND CAUSING LOSS OF APPROXIMATELY THE OUTER 24 INCHES OF WING AND RUPTURED THE FUEL SYSTEM.  OVERLOAD FORCES CAUSED THE LANDING GEAR TO FAIL.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET TO THE RIGHT AND 200 FEET BEYOND THE THRESHOLD OF RUNWAY 15.  THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE THREE OCCUPANTS AND NO POST CRASH FIRE.

## 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 CEN12CA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA202), Mar 24, 2012: Smith Aerostar 601P (N602BV), Casterville, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane while circling to land.

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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