Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600)

The aircraft was on its way to the south of the US with one pilot and four golfers on board. Shortly after takeoff from runway 15, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled, hit trees and crashed in a field located 200 yards from the Woodbine Avenue. The pilot was killed while all four passengers were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

During an IFR arrival/descent, the pilot stated he 'had to feather one engine, I have an oil leak and I'm just trying to descend . . .' he then said he was descending thru 5,300 feet. As he continued the approach, he informed the controller he would be unable to go around since the hydraulic system was powered by the affected right engine. Subsequently, the pilot said he was at 1,500 feet and was having a hard time holding altitude. A witness heard and saw the aircraft in a level attitude at low altitude, then saw the aircraft dive toward the ground. It impacted in a steep descent just short of a long field and burned. The right propeller was feathered, but there was no evidence of oil starvation in either engine. The pilot's neighbor said he (the pilot) was aware of a hydraulic leak, but he was awaiting the annual inspection (due in September) to repair it. An exam revealed the flaps were partially extended, the landing gear control was in the 'up' position, and the gear was down. The flight manual stated that with a hydraulic failure downstream of the accumulator, the flap handle should be in 'neutral' to prevent gear and flap extension. The flap control could not be found. All six occupants were killed.

Pilot-in-command stated that he waited approximately 90 seconds after a B727 departed on runway 08R due to possible wake turbulence. Pilot continued to state that he used a short field takeoff procedure to climb above the flight path of the B727. He stated that during climbout N3643R began an uncommanded roll to the left at approximately 600 feet. The pilot regained roll control just prior to ground impact. The Piper Aerostar is certificated without a stall warning device. The wind at Stapleton Airport at the time N3643R took off was 170° at 20 knots with gusts to 28 knots. According to the pilot operating handbook, the demonstrated crosswind component is 15 knots. All four occupants were injured, one seriously.

On arrival at destination, pilot found airport obscured by fog, reported by unicom as one mile visibility. Pilot circled to await improvement. 15 minutes later, visibility improved to 1-1/2 mi. Aircraft observed briefly through breaks, then heard maneuvering to north and seen once on approximate downwind heading. Aircraft heard approaching airport then appeared in diving left turn below fog and to right of runway before impact. Approved ndb/vor dme/rnav approaches to airport have 700 feet ceiling minimum. Aircraft found configured for landing. No record of request for instrument approach. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The pilot stated that during takeoff roll he experienced a power surge but the engine did not quit. He aborted the takeoff by reducing power on both engines and applying brakes. This resulted in the aircraft swerving off the right side of the runway, rolling thru the grass and striking a culvert which separated the landing gear. Wreckage examination revealed: both throttles at idle, mixture and prop controls were full forward and full rich and high rpm on respective engine controls. All cables attaching hardware was intact.

Before departing, the pilot obtained a weather briefing and was advised of a sigmet which forecasted severe turbulence below 18,000 feet, strong up/downdrafts, strong surface winds and wind shear near mountains and in passes. He took off with full fuel tanks and approximately 400 lbs of cargo on board. ARTCC reported that the en route portion of the flight was handled routinely. During arrival, the pilot contacted the airport unicom for a landing advisory. A King Air pilot was arriving at about the same time and asked the Aerostar pilot if he was making a full stop. The Aerostar pilot replied that he was. The King Air pilot lost sight of the Aerostar and began a 360° turn. He asked the Aerostar pilot to advise of his position, and shortly thereafter, the Aerostar pilot transmitted three mayday calls. Reportedly, the aircraft nosed up and went into a steep right bank just before impact. No preimpact mechanical failure/malfunction was found. There was evidence that most of the cargo was in the baggage compartment (limited to 240 lbs) and could have moved the CofG well beyond the aft limit. Elevator trim found full nose down. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The aircraft departed into IFR conditions with a non-instrument rated pilot in the left front seat and his wife, an instrument rated pilot, in the right front seat. After the pilot reported climbing through 2,800 ft msl, the radar controller observed that the aircraft deviated from the course and began to lose altitude. He attempted to communicate with the pilot, but was unable. Witnesses observed the aircraft maneuver in and out of the overcast. Two witnesses watched it change course to the right from southeast to northwest, pull up into the overcast, then dive out of the clouds in a near vertical attitude and crash. During an examination of the wreckage, no preimpact, mechanical failures were found. The aircraft was designed to be flown in instrument conditions from only the left front seat. Both occupants as well as one person on the ground were killed.

While descending near the destination, the left engine stopped running. The pilot attempted two airstarts which were unsuccessful. He feathered and secured the left engine and requested radar vectors to the nearest airport. A visual approach was made to the hunt airport at Portland, TX. The pilot stated that he was having no difficulty in maintaining airspeed even with the gear down until he was on final approach. On short final, he extended full flaps. He stated that as soon as he put the flap handle down, he realized he made a mistake, but it was too late to take any action to prevent the aircraft from landing Short. The aircraft touched down on rising terrain between the end of the runway and a nearby shoreline, traveled up the embankment and onto the runway, then burned. The pilot escaped with only minor injuries. The fire damaged left engine was disassembled, but no preimpact failure was found. Reportedly, the plane had not been flown since Feb 82. Before takeoff, the battery was dead. The pilot was slightly injured.

The crew departed Vero Beach Airport on a local post production test flight. En route, while cruising along the coast, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the Atlantic Ocean about 16 miles off shore. Both pilots were killed and the aircraft was destroyed.

While cruising poor weather conditions, the pilot got lost and disoriented. Due to an insufficient flying speed, the airplane stalled, entered a dive and crashed near Mead. Both occupants were killed.