# NTSB OAK77FA051: Aerostar 601, N7481S, Little Norway, CA, August 26, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 26, 1977
- Place: Little Norway, CA · LITTLE NORWAY, CA
- Location: 38.8246° N, 120.0366° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Little Norway, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8246&lon=-120.0366&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 17, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 145529
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK77FA051
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK77FA051

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3656  77/8/26    LITTLE NORWAY,CA    CESSNA 182C         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 57, 5000
        TIME - 1100                    N8532T              PX-  3  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  1                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LAKE TAHOE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SOUTH LAKE TAHOE,CA         SAN FRANCISCO,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - TOWER                               RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - NOT UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ACFT WAS OVERTAKEN AND STRUCK FROM THE REAR BY N7481S.
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3656  77/8/26    LITTLE NORWAY,CA    AEROSTAR 601        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 60, 6444
        TIME - 1100                    N7481S              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 2500 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  4  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LAKE TAHOE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SOUTH LAKE TAHOE,CA         OAKLAND,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - TOWER                               RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - NOT UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - CONTROLLED AIRPORT     EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO
          ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - OPERATING
        REMARKS- ACFT OVERTOOK N8532T.
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N7481S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7481S-2013-05-08), registration cancelled 2013-05-08, S/N 61-0048-93, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSTAR 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: Lake Tahoe

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N8532T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8532T-1978-02-24), registration cancelled 1978-02-24, S/N 52432 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182C
- Registry model: [Cessna 182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182) (registry code 2072702) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Lake Tahoe

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19770826039341A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770826039341A), Aug 26, 1977: Piper 601SMITH, Little Norway, NV, Substantial damage. Acft overtook N8532T.
- [Accident 19770826039342A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770826039342A), Aug 26, 1977: Cessna 182C, Little Norway, NV, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Acft was overtaken and struck from the rear by N7481S.

## Other investigations on N7481S (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 FTW87FA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA149), Jun 22, 1987: Piper PA-60-601 (N7481S), Hillsboro, TX, substantial 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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