# NTSB SEA74AS038: Aerostar 601, N7474S, La Grande, OR, April 11, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 11, 1974
- Place: La Grande, OR · LA GRANDE, OR
- Location: 45.3240° N, 118.0855° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of La Grande, OR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3240&lon=-118.0855&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 5, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124297
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA74AS038
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA74AS038

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1282  74/4/11    LA GRANDE,OREG      AEROSTAR 601        CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 46, 8884
        TIME - 1340                    N7474S              PX-  1  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 244 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          HAILEY,ID                   WALLA WALLA,WASH             LA GRANDE,OREG
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    2500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      50
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           60                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- FLYING AT LO LVL BLO CLOUDS IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.HIT PWR LINES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7474S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7474S-1975-06-10), registration cancelled 1975-06-10, S/N 61-0045-86 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSTAR 601
- Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 601](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-601) (registry code 8360606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19740411012489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740411012489A), Apr 11, 1974: Piper 601SMITH, La Grande, OR, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flying at lo lvl blo clouds in mountainous terrain. Hit pwr lines.

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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