Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600) crash, Jan 18, 2005 (5 killed)
Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600) accident on January 18, 2005 near Cornelia, Free State, South Africa with 5 fatalities. Cause: The pilot may have...
- Date: January 18, 2005
- Aircraft: Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600)
- Location: Cornelia, Free State, South Africa
- Fatalities: 5
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: The pilot may have lost control in adverse weather and entered a spiral while descending. No eyewitnesses were found, although local residents reported a severe storm near the site.
A privately operated Piper PA-60 Aerostar was flying from Wonderboom Aerodrome towards Harrismith, although the pilot told air traffic control the destination was Springs. The aircraft hit the ground at high speed and a steep descent near Cornelia in the Free State during a period of thunderstorms. All five occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed.