# NTSB MIA90FA021: Smith, Ted Aerostar Aerostar 600, N7526S, Apopka, FL, November 2, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 2, 1989, 08:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place: Apopka, FL
- Location: 28.6806° N, 81.5095° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Apopka, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.6806&lon=-81.5095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32533
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90FA021
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32533/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90FA021

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE ABOVE THE WATER, WHILE PROCEEDING OVER A LAKE AND APPROACHING THE VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach
  - terrain condition - water
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIR TAXI ACFT DEPARTED SHREVEPORT, LA, AT APRX 0500 CST ON AN UNSCHEDULED, DOMESTIC, CARGO FLT. AT ABOUT 0815 EST, THE PLT RPRTD ON COMPANY FREQ THAT HE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30 MIN FROM THE DESTN (ORLANDO, FL). SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED IN THE NW PART OF LAKE APOPKA, APRX 15 TO 20 MI WNW OF THE DESTN ARPT. A WITNESS HEARD IT CRASH, THEN SAW PARTS FROM THE ACFT, BUT DID NOT SEE THE ACTUAL IMPACT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A SHALLOW DESCENT, WHILE IN A SLIGHT LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE, TRAVELING AT A RELATIVELY HIGH SPEED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FOUND, THOUGH THE ACFT WAS EXTENSIVELY DMGD & SOME OF THE WRECKAGE WAS NOT RECOVERED FROM THE LAKE. THE ORLANDO WX WAS IN PART: 2500' SCT, VIS 6 MI WITH FOG & HAZE, WIND FROM 350 DEG AT 4 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7526S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7526S-1996-02-28), registration cancelled 1996-02-28, S/N 600158071 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 60-0158-071
- Airframe hours: 2509
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Cherokee Leasing Inc., doing business as Cherokee Express
- Registered owner: Cherokee Leasing Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 8, 1989, 40 hours before
- Departed: SHV, SHREVEPORT, LA
- Destination: ORL, ORLANDO, FL
- Airport: ORL, Orlando Executive

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,400 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MCO, 18 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 19891102044409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891102044409A), Nov 2, 1989: Piper PA60600, Apopka, FL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Impact with lake waters. Pilot was up all night. No mechanical.

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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