Smith, Ted Aerostar 601A accident near Celina, Ohio, June 24, 1983
On June 24, 1983 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Smith, Ted Aerostar 601A, registered N727NM, was destroyed in an accident near Celina, Ohio (Lakefield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 1983 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Celina, Ohio · Lakefield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Smith, Ted Aerostar 601A
- Registration
- N727NM · no longer on the register · serial 610276106
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE PLT ARRIVED AT THE DESTINATION ARPT, THERE WAS CONSTRUCTION ON THE RWY, ABOUT 2500 FT FROM THE APCH END. HE CONTACTED UNICOM & WAS ADVISED THAT THE RWY WAS CLOSED, BUT WAS TOLD HE COULD LAND ON THE GRASS BESIDE THE RWY. THE PLT RESPONDED THAT THE GRASS AREA WAS TOO ROUGH. HE STATED, 'I THINK I CAN LAND ON THE RWY AVAILABLE, THERE SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH LENGTH THERE.' SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED APPROACHING RWY 8 AT AN ESTIMATED 30 FT AGL WITH THE GEAR & FLAPS DOWN. REPORTEDLY, THE POWER WAS INCREASED, THE NOSE ASSUMED A CLIMB ATTITUDE & THE GEAR WAS RETRACTED. THE ACFT THEN ROLLED LEFT, DOVE TO THE GROUND & CRASHED. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. AN EVALUATION OF THIS MAKE & MODEL OF ACFT REVEALED THAT WHEN THE CG APPROACHED THE AFT LIMIT, & THE FLAPS WERE EXTENDED, THE ACFT HAD REDUCED YAW & ROLL CONTROLLABILITY DURING POWER ON STALLS. THE FLAPS WERE FOUND FULL DOWN.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 1,217 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 5,350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,227 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 2, 1982; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,700 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-S1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VNW Van Wert OH at 3:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from DAY, 35 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.