Smith Aerostar 600 accident near Burbank, California, May 8, 1982
On May 8, 1982 at about 1:16 pm local time, a Smith Aerostar 600, registered N8007J, was destroyed in an accident near Burbank, California (Burbank airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- May 8, 1982 · about 1:16 pm local time
- Place
- Burbank, California · Burbank · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Smith Aerostar 600
- Registration
- N8007J · no longer on the register · serial 60-0493-160
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED INTO IFR CONDITIONS WITH A NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT IN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT AND HIS WIFE, AN INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT, IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. AFTER THE PILOT REPORTED CLIMBING THROUGH 2800 FT MSL, THE RADAR CONTROLLER OBSERVED THAT THE AIRCRAFT DEVIATED FROM THE COURSE AND BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE. HE ATTEMPTED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PILOT, BUT WAS UNABLE. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT MANEUVER IN AND OUT OF THE OVERCAST. TWO WITNESSES WATCHED IT CHANGE COURSE TO THE RIGHT FROM SOUTHEAST TO NORTHWEST, PULL UP INTO THE OVERCAST, THEN DIVE OUT OF THE CLOUDS IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE AND CRASH. DURING AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE, NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESIGNED TO BE FLOWN IN INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS FROM ONLY THE LEFT FRONT SEAT.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 17,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 709 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-KIJ5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BUR Burbank CA at 6:13 am
- Destination: Farmington NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 6,920 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 136°F (58°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:20 am from BUR, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.