Smith, Ted Aerostar Aerostar 601 accident near Elyria, Ohio, December 11, 2007
On December 11, 2007 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Smith, Ted Aerostar Aerostar 601, registered N2699G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elyria, Ohio (Lorain County Regional 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's momentary loss of control after takeoff, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a tree. A contributing factor was the presence of the tree.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 11, 2007 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elyria, Ohio · Lorain County Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Smith, Ted Aerostar Aerostar 601
- Registration
- N2699G · no longer on the register · serial 61-0163-083
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he departed on an instrument flight rules flight plan into a low overcast cloud ceiling. He commented that he lost visual contact with the ground immediately upon liftoff. During the initial climb, the airplane momentarily entered a nose-down attitude. He subsequently corrected the nose down attitude. However, as the airplane began to climb again the right wing impacted a tree. This occurred approximately 1 mile from the airport and within 1 minute of takeoff. After the in-flight collision, he had "full function" of the airplane and elected to continue the planned 31-minute flight to the intended destination. He added that there were no anomalies related to flight control or engine operation during the flight. A post accident inspection revealed impact damage to the leading edge of the right wing, right engine nacelle, and right propeller spinner. In addition, the inspection revealed a 3-inch crack in the aft wing spar at the right main landing gear wheel well.
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: 2,411 hours in all; 789 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 2,314 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental IO-540-S1-A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental IO-540-S1-A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LPR Elyria OH at 7:30 pm
- Destination: PTK Pontiac MI
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1.2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from LPR, 1 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.