# NTSB DEN73FTE23: Ted Smith 601, N44JV, Bennett, CO, August 31, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: August 31, 1972
- Place: Bennett, CO · BENNETT, CO
- Location: 39.7420° N, 104.4287° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bennett, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7420&lon=-104.4287&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 19, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 168185
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN73FTE23
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN73FTE23

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3918  72/8/31    BENNETT,COLO        TED SMITH 601       CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 48, 2000
        TIME - 1755                    N44JV               PX-  0  0  1  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 175 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CINCINNATI,OHIO             DENVER,COLO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: DITCHES                                   LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
           MISCELLANEOUS - EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID COLLISION
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
           POWERPLANT - POWERPLANT-INSTRUMENTS: FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FAILURE OF TWO OR MORE ENGINES
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-2 ENGINES
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- CRASHED INTO BARROW DITCH AVOIDING TELFON WIRES DRG LDG ATMT ON ROAD.FUEL GAGES INOP.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44JV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44JV-1973-06-22), registration cancelled 1973-06-22, S/N 61-0059-112, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TED SMITH 601
- Registry model: [Butler AEROSTAR 601](https://openairdocs.org/model/butler-aerostar-601) (registry code 1710606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: 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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