# NTSB FTW79FA048: Aerostar 601P, N9779Q, New Braunfels, TX, February 16, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 16, 1979
- Place: New Braunfels, TX · NEW BRAUNFELS, TX
- Location: 29.7030° N, 98.1245° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of New Braunfels, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7030&lon=-98.1245&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 14, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137605
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW79FA048
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FA048

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0580  79/2/16  NR.NEW BRAUNFELS,TX   AEROSTAR 601P       CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 52, 1200
        TIME - 1435                    N9779Q              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN ANTONIO,TX              LAKE CHARLES,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ON DAY PRIOR TO ACDNT FLT INSTR RCMDD PILOT NOT FLY IFR TIL 10HRS ADDN DUAL INSTR RECIEVED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9779Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9779Q-2013-03-20), registration cancelled 2013-03-20, S/N 61P-0407-143 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSTAR 601P
- Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-601p) (registry code 8360608) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19790216007679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790216007679A), Feb 16, 1979: Piper 601PSMITH, New Braunfels, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft was observed to dive out of an overcast and burn on ground contact.

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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