# NTSB CEN12CA202: Smith Aerostar 601P, N602BV, Casterville, TX, March 24, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 24, 2012, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Casterville, TX - Coordinates: 29.340509, -98.870063 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3405&lon=-98.8701&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-circling (IFR): Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 14, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83219 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA202 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83219/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83219 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA202 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane while circling to land. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8360608), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=8360608), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-circling (IFR): Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8360608), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8360608), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot flew a global positioning system approach and, though he was able to see the runway upon reaching the missed approach point, he stated that he was not able to land the airplane. He then decided to circle to land with full flaps while maintaining an airspeed of 140 mph. The airplane entered an “unusually high” sink rate during the turn; the pilot added full power and leveled the wings, but the airplane continued to descend. The airplane impacted the ground off the end of and to the right of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot flew the GPS approach and stated he was able to see the runway upon reaching the missed approach point; however, he was not “in a position” to land the airplane. He stated he decided to circle to land with full flaps while maintaining an airspeed of 140 miles per hour. The airplane entered an “unusually high” sink rate during the turn. The pilot added full power and leveled the wings, but the airplane continued to descend. The airplane impacted the terrain off the end of and to the right of the runway. The airplane received substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures/malfunctions which resulted in the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N602BV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N602BV-2015-03-19), registration cancelled 2015-03-19, S/N 61P-0338-099, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SMITH AEROSTAR 601P - Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-601p) (registry code 8360608) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 61P-0338-099 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING IO-540 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Louis F. Fabre - Registered owner: Specialized Psychopharmacology Specialities LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 2011, 25 hours before - Departed: AXH, Arcola, TX - Destination: CBV, Casterville, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CBV, Casterville Municipal Airport, runway 15, 4,600 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 5, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 5,402 total, 267 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: CVB ## 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 20120324003739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120324003739A), Mar 24, 2012: Smith AEROSTAR 601P, Castroville, TX, Substantial damage. 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… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 1, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83219. 662 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 573 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366192&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366193&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Email to NTSB (item 3, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366208&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20to%20NTSB-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.