- Date
- May 29, 1986, 03:50 local (08:50 UTC)
- Place
- Dickson, TN
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N260ASmith, Ted Aerostar Aerostar 600
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19860529019829A
- Case key
- 6943
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The acft contacted electrical wires and trees shortly after takeoff. The acft then descended to impact with the terrain. Examination of the wreckage revealed the elevator trim actuator rod was extended 2.5 inches which correlates with a full nose down setting. Further examination showed the buss wire for the actuator retract switch was disconnected at the retract switch post. Splattered copper was found on the retract switch indicating the buss wire had been subjected to high amperage. The limitations section of the pilot operating handbook for this acft does not state that takeoff is prohibited with inoperative pitch trim.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N260A
- Reported as
- Smith, Ted Aerostar Aerostar 600 (AEROSTAR 6)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 60-496-161
- Airframe hours
- 1,602
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-K1J5, 290 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- John K. Gray
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 2, 1985
- Departed
- M02 · Dickson, TN
- Destination
- PBI · Palm Beach, FL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- MO2 · Dickson Municipal, runway 17, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,022 total · 6 in this make and model · 846 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BNA, 40 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.