Smith AEROSTAR 600 accident near Wonewoc, Wisconsin, June 14, 2001
On June 14, 2001 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Smith AEROSTAR 600, registered N7484S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wonewoc, Wisconsin (Three Castles Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The deer on the runway as the airplane was landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2001 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wonewoc, Wisconsin · Three Castles Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Smith AEROSTAR 600 · all AEROSTAR 600s on the register
- Registration
- N7484S · no longer on the register · serial 60-0043-98
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said he was landing on runway 28 at Three Castles Airpark following a 50 minute flight. As the main landing gear wheels were touching down on the runway, he hit a deer. The airplane rolled down the runway normally and was slowed. The pilot said that he couldn't turn the nose wheel to exit the runway. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,122 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 2,922 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 31, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,555 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2001; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ENW Kenosha WI at 4:00 pm
- Destination: 4D1 Wonewoc
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,790 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,800 ft; scat at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from DLL, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.