# NTSB SEA85FA035: Smith, Ted Aerostar Aerostar 601A, N9781Q, Genoa, NV, December 13, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 13, 1984, 02:00 local (10:00 UTC)
- Place: Genoa, NV
- Coordinates: 39.000297, -119.840202 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0003&lon=-119.8402&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40025
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA85FA035
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40025/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85FA035

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - light condition - dark night
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - proper altitude - not maintained

## Analysis

THE PLT HAD FLOWN FROM CARSON CITY, NV TO SHREVEPORT, LA ON 12/10/84 FOR BUSINESS. AT 1530 ON 12/12/84, HE DEPARTED ON AFLT TO CORONA,CA WITH REFUELING STOPS AT ALBUQUERQUE, NM & PHOENIX, AZ. HE DEPARTED PHOENIX AT 2100, BUT ENCOUNTERED WX & RETURNED TO PHOENIX WHERE HE REFUELED AGAIN & OBTAINED A LENGTHY WX BRIEFING. HE THEN ELECTED TO RETURN TO HIS HOMEARPT AT CARSON CITY & TOOK OFF AT 2351. WHEN THE ACFT DID NOT ARRIVE, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. RADAR DATA REVEALED AN UNIDENTIFIED TARGET THAT DISAPPEARED NEAR GENOA, NV. DURING A SEARCH IN THAT AREA, THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND WHERE THE ACFTHAD CRASHED NEAR THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN ABOUT 5 MI NORTH OF THE PLT'S HOME. THE ELEVATION WAS APRX 9050 FT. IMPACT OCCURRED ON A WESTERLY HEADING, ABOUT 2 HRS BEFORE MOONSET, ON THE SHADED SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, IN A NEAR WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE. NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION/FAILURE WAS FOUND, BOTH ENGS/PROPS SHOWED EVIDENCE OF POWER. THE PLT'S WIFE SAID HE SOMETIMES FLEW OVER THEIR HOUSE TO LET HER KNOW HE WOULD BE HOME SOON. COMPLETE AUTOPSY/TOX CHECK NOT PSBL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9781Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9781Q-2013-05-30), registration cancelled 2013-05-30, S/N 61P-0409-145 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Smith, Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 601A (AEROSTAR 6)
- Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-601p) (registry code 8360608) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 61P-0409-145
- Airframe hours: 1788
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-S1A5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Sam Lewis Mccormac
- Registered owner: Eric W. Laub
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 1984, 41 hours before
- Departed: PHX, PHOENIX, AZ
- Destination: O04, CARSON CITY, NV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, expired; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,100 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RNO, 28 nm away

## 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 19841213076389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841213076389A), Dec 13, 1984: Piper PA60601P, Genoa, NV, Destroyed. Descended too low and impacted side of mountain on VFR flight. Mountain side in shadow and difficult to see.

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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