# NTSB SEA77FA047: Aerostar 601P, N9578Q, Burns, OR, August 12, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 12, 1977
- Place: Burns, OR · BURNS, OR
- Location: 43.5883° N, 119.0613° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Burns, OR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5883&lon=-119.0613&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 3, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 145961
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA77FA047
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA77FA047

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3095  77/8/12    BURNS,OR            AEROSTAR 601P       CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 38, 1008
        TIME - 1150                    N9578Q              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 36 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAVERN,CA                   LAGRANDE,OR
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- WINGS SEPARATED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9578Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9578Q-1977-11-30), registration cancelled 1977-11-30, S/N 61P-0368-117 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSTAR 601P
- Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-601p) (registry code 8360608) (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 19770812032349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770812032349A), Aug 12, 1977: Smith 601PSMITH, Burns, OR, Destroyed. Wings separated.

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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