Smith, Ted Aerostar 601P accident near Broomfield, Colorado, September 26, 2004
On September 26, 2004 at about 5:37 pm local time, a Smith, Ted Aerostar 601P, registered N200FF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Broomfield, Colorado (Jefferson County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision to accept a short traffic pattern and the improper flare resulting in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 2004 · about 5:37 pm local time
- Place
- Broomfield, Colorado · Jefferson County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Smith, Ted Aerostar 601P
- Registration
- N200FF · no longer on the register · serial 61P-0941-200
- 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 asked by the tower to make a short approach. He was then asked to make his right base turn, such that he had to continue his turn to roll out on final over the runway. The pilot said he leveled the wings and had a hard landing. The pilot said that the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid off the left side of the runway. An examination of the airplane showed the left main landing gear strut was broken and pushed upward through the top of the left wing engine nacelle. The right wing was broken upward at the wing root. Both propellers' blades showed torsional bending and chordwise scratches. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No other anomalies were found.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,605 hours in all; 358 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,448 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 20, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,038 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2004; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-540-S1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-540-S1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BJC Broomfield CO at 4:50 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 29R, 9,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 600 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from BJC, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.