Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) crash, Feb 1, 1979
Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) accident on February 1, 1979 near Charleville Queensland, Australia with no fatalities. Cause: Takeoff in an...
- Date: February 1, 1979
- Aircraft: Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601)
- Location: Charleville Queensland, Australia
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Takeoff in an overweight condition with the centre of gravity forward of limits, leading to loss of control in the initial climb.
A Ted Smith Aerostar 601 (VH-CPH) on a cargo charter from Charleville to Mount Isa was overweight, with its centre of gravity 142 mm ahead of the forward limit. The pilot could not keep control during the initial climb after the flaps were retracted at low airspeed. The aircraft struck the runway, overran and was destroyed by fire. The occupants survived.