# NTSB MIA00LA140: Smith, Ted Aerostar Aerostar 600, N7528S, Vieques, PR, April 20, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 20, 2000, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Vieques, PR
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 49065
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA140
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49065/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA140

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper compensation for wind conditions during approach to landing resulting in the aircraft touching down hard, short of the runway, and receiving substantial damage.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper descent rate - not obtained, pilot in command
  - proper touchdown point - not obtained, pilot in command

## Analysis

The pilot stated that while approaching to land, the aircraft entered a downward motion and touched down about 10 feet short of the runway. He taxied to the ramp after landing and discovered the aircraft had sustained substantial damage.

## Factual narrative

On April 20, 2000, about 1400 Atlantic standard time, a Smith Aerostar 600, N7528S, registered to Island Wings, Inc., was damaged during landing at Vieques, Puerto, Rico, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot and three passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Fajardo, Puerto Rico, the same day, about 1330.

The pilot stated that while landing on runway 9 at Antonio Rivera Rodriguez Airport, while on short final approach in the landing configuration, just before touchdown, the aircraft encountered a downward force due to the displaced touchdown point of the extremely short runway available. He immediately added power to try to overcome the downward motion, but to no avail. The aircraft touched down 10 feet short of the runway. He continued the landing and exited the runway. Postlanding inspection of the aircraft showed it had sustained substantial damage.

The NTSB was notified of the accident on April 27, 2000.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7528S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7528S), registered now, S/N 60-0190-086 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Smith, Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 600 (AEROSTAR 6)
- Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 600](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-600) (registry code 8360602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 60-0190-086
- Airframe hours: 3228
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1F5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sammy Garcia Perez
- Registered owner: Island Wings, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 27, 2000, 80 hours before
- Departed: X95, FAJARDO, PR
- Destination: VQS
- Airport: VQS, Antonio Rivera Rodriguez, runway 9, 3,400 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 901 total, 76 in this make and model, 729 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SJU, 35 nm away

## 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 20000420010429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000420010429A), Apr 20, 2000: Isla De Vieques, Puerto Rico, No damage. (-23) On 4/20/2000, while approaching and landing at Vieques, suffered a hard landing, resulting in substantial damages. The a/c was visually inspected and it…

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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