Smith, Ted Aerostar 600 accident near Detroit, Michigan, March 23, 1984
On March 23, 1984 at about 3:18 am local time, a Smith, Ted Aerostar 600, registered N9823Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Detroit, Michigan (Detroit City airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- March 23, 1984 · about 3:18 am local time
- Place
- Detroit, Michigan · Detroit City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Smith, Ted Aerostar 600
- Registration
- N9823Q · no longer on the register · serial 60-0466-154
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TAXIWAY COLLAPSED UNDER THE ACFT AS THE PLT PREPARED FOR TAKEOFF. THE ASPHALT SURFACE GAVE WAY DUE TO SUB-SURFACE EROSION AND A FOUR FT HOLE RESULTED. THE ACFTS LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS SHEARED OFF.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,392 hours in all; 237 in this make and model; 202 in the last 90 days; 3,278 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,500 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1F5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MKG Musegan MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 270° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,100 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:38 am from DET
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.