Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) crash, Dec 10, 2017 (1 killed)
Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) accident on December 10, 2017 near Miami-Executive (Kendall-Tamiami), Florida, United States with 1 fatality....
- Date: December 10, 2017
- Aircraft: Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601)
- Location: Miami-Executive (Kendall-Tamiami), Florida, United States
- Fatalities: 1
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: NTSB (CEN18FA050) classified the defining event as loss of control in flight after the pilot's emergency return to the airport; the specific reason for the loss of control was not established in the sources reviewed.
On 10 December 2017 a private Smith Aerostar 601 (Piper PA 61 variant) registered N7529S took off from Miami Executive Airport, Florida, with one pilot aboard. After an aborted first takeoff, the pilot declared an emergency during the second climb and tried to turn back toward the runway at about 400 to 800 feet, but the bank angle exceeded 90 degrees, the nose dropped and the aircraft struck the ground, killing him and destroying the aircraft. The NTSB (CEN18FA050) classified the event as loss of control in flight, and the sources note that the pilot did not hold a current medical certificate and had attempted an unlicensed repair of a fuel leak before departure.