# NTSB ATL85LA006: Smith, Ted Aerostar Aerostar 600, N66CM, Abbeville, SC, October 11, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 11, 1984, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Abbeville, SC
- Coordinates: 34.169807, -82.370651 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1698&lon=-82.3707&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6685
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85LA006
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6685/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA006

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - planned approach - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - landing gear,tire - burst
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - separation

## Analysis

RIGHT MAIN TIRE BLEW DURING A HARD LANDING. PLT APPLIED LEFT BRAKE AND RUDDER BUT ACFT CONTINUED OFF RIGHT SIDE OF RWY. ACFT SKIDDED ACROSS A PILE OF DEBRIS WHICH INITIATED A FLASH FIRE IN THE UNDERBRUSH. THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS BROKEN FROM THE ACFT BEFORE IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP APRX 1400 FT FROM THE APCH END OF THE RWY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N66CM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66CM-1990-02-20), registration cancelled 1990-02-20, S/N 600046101 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Smith, Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 600 (AEROSTAR 6)
- Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 600](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-600) (registry code 8360602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 600046101
- Airframe hours: 3300
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-G1B5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert L. Graves
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CAE, COLUMBIA, SC
- Destination: A03, ABBEVILLE, SC
- Airport: A03, Davis Field, runway 26, 2,240 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 5,500 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19841011055389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841011055389A), Oct 11, 1984: Piper PA60600, Abbeville, SC, Substantial damage. Flared too high on hard downwind landing. Applied too much braking, blew right tire. Ran off side of runway.

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.

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