# NTSB NYC82FHD06: Ted Smith Aerostar 600, N9759Q, Toms River, NJ, February 3, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: February 3, 1982, 04:30 local (09:30 UTC)
- Place: Toms River, NJ
- Location: 39.9537° N, 74.1979° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Toms River, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9537&lon=-74.1979&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 3, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72835
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC82FHD06
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72835/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82FHD06

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, missed approach (ifr)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - missed approach - delayed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING A VOR APPROACH, HE BROKE OUT AT 600 FT AND GOT THE RUNWAY IN SIGHT. HE REPORTED THAT THE VISIBILITY DROPPED FREQUENTLY, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE RUNWAY IN SIGHT UNTIL HE WAS ABOUT 200 YARDS FROM THE RUNWAY. HE STATED THAT THE VISIBILITY WENT TO ZERO AT THAT POINT. HE INITIATED A MISSED APPROACH, AND AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A PINE TREE, BUT CONTINUED FLYING. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND REQUESTED RADAR VECTORS TO MCGUIRE AFB. ON THE FIRST APPROACH TO MCGUIRE AFB, THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOO HIGH. A SECOND APPROACH WAS REQUESTED AND A LANDING WAS MADE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9759Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9759Q-2000-05-09), registration cancelled 2000-05-09, S/N 60-0380-135 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TED SMITH AEROSTAR 600 (AEROSTAR 6)
- Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 600](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-600) (registry code 8360602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 600380135
- Airframe hours: 1940
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1J5 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: T. Pichel
- Registered owner: T. Pichel
- Departed: BWI, BALTIMORE, MD
- Destination: NEW GLOUCESTER, ME
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: N44, Robert Miller, runway 6, 4,872 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 3,901 total, 319 in this make and model, 3,761 as pilot in command, 492 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 40° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Temperature: 100 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MQR

## 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 19820203002729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820203002729A), Feb 3, 1982: Piper 600SMITH, Tom'S River, NJ, Substantial damage. Aircraft struck trees during instrument approach. Pilot claims he had runway in sight when he hit patch of fog.

## Other investigations on N9759Q (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 NYC83IA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83IA056), Jan 25, 1983: Smith, Ted Aerostar 600 Aerostar (N9759Q), Philadelphia, PA, incident, minor damage

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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