# NTSB NYC77FFJ08: Ted Smith 601, N7437S, Dunkirk, NY, December 31, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 31, 1976
- Place: Dunkirk, NY · DUNKIRK, NY
- Location: 42.4806° N, 79.3329° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Dunkirk, NY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4806&lon=-79.3329&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 156571
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC77FFJ08
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC77FFJ08

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3963  76/12/31   DUNKIRK,NY          TED SMITH 601       CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 43, 1500
        TIME - 2130                    N7437S              PX-  0  0  5  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 200 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DUNKIRK
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SARASOTA,FA                 DUNKIRK,NY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - SELF-HELP,PILOT CHECKED WEATHER DATA
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      15
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          280                                                       30
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PLT CANCELLED IFR PLAN.WHILE CIRCLING LOST VISUAL CTC WITH ARPT,BECAME DISORIENTED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7437S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7437S-2013-05-08), registration cancelled 2013-05-08, S/N 61-0008, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TED SMITH 601
- Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 601](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-601) (registry code 8360606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Dunkirk

## 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 19761231041679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19761231041679A), Dec 31, 1976: Piper 601SMITH, Dunkirk, NY, Substantial damage. Plt cancelled IFR plan. While circling lost visual ctc with arpt,became disoriented.

## Other investigations on N7437S (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI79FA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA025), Jan 19, 1979: Aerostar 601 (N7437S), Grand Rapids, MI, destroyed, 4 fatal

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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