Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) crash, Feb 9, 1995 (2 killed)
Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) accident on February 9, 1995 near Tremonton, Utah, United States with 2 fatalities. Cause: The pilot attempted...
- Date: February 9, 1995
- Aircraft: Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601)
- Location: Tremonton, Utah, United States
- Fatalities: 2
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: The pilot attempted visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions and failed to maintain altitude clearance from mountainous terrain, with cloud and darkness as factors. No pre-impact mechanical malfunction was found.
An instrument-rated pilot flying a Piper Aerostar above an overcast tried to find a gap in the clouds to make a visual approach to an uncontrolled airport at night. Unable to find a hole, he was cleared toward a controlled airport, then tried again and descended into mountainous terrain near Tremonton in instrument conditions. Both occupants were killed.