# NTSB ATL85LA025: Smith, Ted Aerostar Aerostar 600A, N90609, Charlotte, NC, November 1, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 31, 1984, 22:10 local (Nov 1, 1984, 03:10 UTC)
- Place: Charlotte, NC
- Location: 35.2132° N, 80.9514° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CHARLOTTE/DOUGLAS INTL (CLT), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2132&lon=-80.9514&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6699
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85LA025
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6699/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA025

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - jammed (cause)
  - gear down and locked - not attained, pilot in command
  - landing gear,steering system - fatigue (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

DURING FINAL APPROACH THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LOWER THE NOSE GEAR THEREFORE HE LANDED WITH THE NOSE GEAR RETRACTED. POST CRASH EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE NOSE STEERING ACTUATING BOLT WAS FRACTURED. THE FACTURE SURFACES EXHIBITED SIGNATURES OF A PROGRESSIVE FATIGUE FAILURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N90609 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Smith, Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 600A (AEROSTAR 6)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 600320118
- Airframe hours: 3897
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1F5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Top Flight Air Service
- Registered owner: David K. Davoudlarian
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 15, 1984, 71 hours before
- Departed: JAX, JACKSONVILLE, FL
- Destination: CHI, CHARLOTTE, NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CLT, Douglas International, runway 36R, 7,845 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,613 total, 350 in this make and model, 2,421 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19841101059439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841101059439A), Nov 1, 1984: Piper PA60600, Charlotte, NC, Substantial damage. Nose steering cylinder actuating bolt failed. Nose gear jammed in well. Landed with nose gear in wheel well.

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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