# NTSB FTW72FRG38: Ted Smith 600, N7497S, Victoria, TX, December 4, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: December 4, 1971
- Place: Victoria, TX · VICTORIA, TX
- Location: 28.8053° N, 97.0036° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Victoria, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8053&lon=-97.0036&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 14, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 164488
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW72FRG38
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW72FRG38

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3319   71/12/4   VICTORIA,TEX        TED SMITH 600       CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 57, 2250
        TIME - 1800                    N7497S              PX-  0  1  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 395 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FOSTER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MUSKOGEE,OKLA               VICTORIA,TEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES - FLIGHT AND NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS: ALTIMETERS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER CLEARANCE-TOLERANCE
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       47
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           50                                                       12
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          BELOW MINIMUMS                                           IFR
        REMARKS- DESCENDED BELOW MDA. ALT READ 130-140 FT TOO HI.REQ ALT CK NCW.PLT WASNT GIVEN UPDATED WEA BY FSS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7497S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7497S-1973-06-04), registration cancelled 1973-06-04, S/N 60-0048-109 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TED SMITH 600
- Registry model: [Butler AEROSTAR 600](https://openairdocs.org/model/butler-aerostar-600) (registry code 1710602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Foster

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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