Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) crash, Apr 30, 2000 (2 killed)
Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) accident on April 30, 2000 near Estes Park, Colorado, United States with 2 fatalities. Cause: The pilot descended...
- Date: April 30, 2000
- Aircraft: Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601)
- Location: Estes Park, Colorado, United States
- Fatalities: 2
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: The pilot descended below terrain clearance in instrument meteorological conditions, with contributing factors including clouds, high terrain, and inaccurate weather evaluation.
A Piper Aerostar 601 on a private cross-country flight from Page to Fort Collins entered instrument conditions over high terrain near Estes Park. The pilot, who was not instrument rated and had filed no flight plan, descended below terrain clearance and struck a mountain peak about 100 feet below the summit. Both occupants were killed.