# NTSB NYC85LA073: Smith, Ted Aerostar Aerostar 600, N7408S, Utica, NY, March 6, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 5, 1985, 20:17 local (Mar 6, 1985, 01:17 UTC)
- Place: Utica, NY
- Location: 43.0964° N, 75.2260° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Utica, NY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0964&lon=-75.2260&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35835
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85LA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35835/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA073

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING AN ILS APCH, HE BROKE OUT & SAW THE ARPT. HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT 'LAKE EFFECT' WAS MOVING IN RAPIDLY. THE WIND WAS REPORTED FROM 290 DEG AT 12 GUSTING 18 KTS. THE PLT ELECTED TO CONTINUE HIS APCH TO RWY 33 RATHER THAN CIRCLE & LAND ON RWY 27. ABOUT 3 TO 5 SEC INTO THE LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT VEER LEFT & COLLIDED WITH A SNOWBANK. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE RWY WAS SLICK. APRX 3 MIN AFTER LANDING, THE WX WAS REPORTED IN PART AS: 500 FT OBSCURED, VISIBILITY 1/2 MI WITH LIGHT SNOW.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N7408S (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Smith, Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 600 (AEROSTAR 6)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 600013
- Airframe hours: 2736
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-G1B5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Buxmont Aviation Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 5, 1985, 2 hours before
- Departed: TEB, TETERBORO, NJ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: UCA, Oneida Co., runway 33, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,518 total, 109 in this make and model, 108 as pilot in command, 108 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 290° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft
- Temperature: 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19850305006999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850305006999A), Mar 5, 1985: Piper PA60600, Utica, NY, Substantial damage. Aircraft collided with a snowbank after touchdown. Nose and main gear collapsed.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.