# NTSB CHI79FA025: Aerostar 601, N7437S, Grand Rapids, MI, January 19, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 19, 1979
- Place: Grand Rapids, MI · GRAND RAPIDS, MI
- Location: 42.9634° N, 85.6681° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Grand Rapids, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9634&lon=-85.6681&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 6, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137015
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79FA025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA025

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0861  79/1/19    GRAND RAPIDS,MI     AEROSTAR 601        CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 44, 2646
        TIME - 1922                    N7437S              PX-  3  2  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      TOTAL HOURS, 195 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG S-D        INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - KENT COUNTY INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LANSING,MI                  MARQUETTE,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           WEATHER - WIND SHEAR
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ICE-WINDSHIELD
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          FREEZING RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          FOG                                                      LEFT QUARTERING TAIL WIND 203-247 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           21                                                      120
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           13                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7437S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7437S-2013-05-08), registration cancelled 2013-05-08, S/N 61-0008, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSTAR 601
- Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 601](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-601) (registry code 8360606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Kent County Intl

## Other investigations on N7437S (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC77FFJ08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC77FFJ08), Dec 31, 1976: Ted Smith 601 (N7437S), Dunkirk, NY, substantial damage

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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