# NTSB CHI02LA022: Smith Aerostar 601, N128AC, Danville, IL, November 8, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 8, 2001, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Danville, IL - Coordinates: 40.150985, -87.670257 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1510&lon=-87.6703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 15, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Springfield, Illinois-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53738 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53738/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA022 ## Probable cause The separation of the main landing gear scissor assembly during landing for undetermined reasons, resulting in the directional control of the airplane not being possible. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - landing gear,main gear strut scissors - separation (cause) - directional control - not possible (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll ## Analysis The airplane veered off of the runway during landing. The pilot reported that during the landing, he heard a loud noise and then the airplane veered off of the runway. Upon inspection, the landing gear scissor assembly was found broken loose from the upper mounting collar on the landing gear strut and the lower strut was rotated about 90 degrees. A request was made that the broken parts be sent to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator for further examination. The parts were not received. No other anomalies were found with the airplane or its systems that could be associated with a pre-impact condition. ## Factual narrative On November 8, 2001, about 1145 central standard time, a Smith Aerostar 601, N128AC, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during landing on runway 34 (3,999 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) at the Vermillion County Airport, Danville, Illinois. The 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight was on an instrument flight rules flight plan and was operating in visual meteorological conditions. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from the General Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, about 1045. The pilot reported that during the landing, he heard a loud noise and the airplane veered off of the runway. Upon inspection, the landing gear scissor assembly was found broken loose from the upper mounting collar on the landing gear strut and the lower strut was rotated about 90 degrees. A request was made that the broken parts be sent to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator for further examination. As of March 8, 2002, the parts had not been received. No other anomalies were found with the airplane or its systems that could be associated with a pre-impact condition. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N128AC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N128AC), registered now, S/N 61-0170-084, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Smith Aerostar 601 - Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 601](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-601) (registry code 8360606) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 61-0170-084 - Airframe hours: 4452 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 290 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-540 290 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Name - Registered owner: George J. Camarata - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 20, 2001, 5 hours before - Departed: MKE, MILWAUKEE, WI - Destination: DNV, Danville, IL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: DNV, Vermilion County, runway 34, 3,999 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 30, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 4,500 total, 980 in this make and model, 4,250 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 13 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: DNV ## 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 20011108030549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011108030549A), Nov 8, 2001: Danville, IL, No damage. (-23) On November 8, 2001, about 11:45 central standard time, a smith Aerostar 601, N128AC, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during… 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.