Piper PA-46-310P and Smith, Ted Aerostar 601P accident near Dunkirk, New York, December 14, 2005
On December 14, 2005 at about 5:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-46-310P (N302H) and Smith, Ted Aerostar 601P (N1WZ), were involved in the same accident near Dunkirk, New York (Dunkirk Airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The Piper Malibu pilot's failure to use the correct radio frequency for traffic advisories, and his selection of the wrong, inactive runway, which resulted in an on-ground collision with another airplane while landing.
The Piper Malibu pilot's failure to use the correct radio frequency for traffic advisories, and his selection of the wrong, inactive runway, which resulted in an on-ground collision with another airplane while landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 14, 2005 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dunkirk, New York · Dunkirk Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-46-310P · all PA-46-310Ps on the register
- Registration
- N302H · no longer on the register · serial 460803
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Smith, Ted Aerostar 601P
- Registration
- N1WZ · no longer on the register · serial 61P-0385-128
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-46-310P final · quoted from the NTSB record
An Aerostar landed on runway 15, a Piper Malibu landed on runway 6, and their right wings contacted at the runway intersection. The pilot of the Aerostar utilized the current Unicom frequency, and was told the winds were favoring runway 15, which was the active runway. The pilot of the Aerostar flew a left traffic pattern for runway 15, radioed position reports, and monitored a Cessna that was also in the traffic pattern for runway 15. The pilot of the Aerostar did not observe any other traffic as he landed on runway 15. The pilot of the Piper Malibu reported a 9-mile final for runway 6, on a radio frequency that had been out-of-date for longer than one year. The pilot of the Piper Malibu did not observe any traffic, and proceeded to land on runway 6. The pilot of the Piper Malibu was using a global positioning system, and did not refer to his onboard approach charts, which listed the correct frequency. The reported wind about the time of the accident was from 130 degrees at 11 knots.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Smith, Ted Aerostar 601P final · quoted from the NTSB record
An Aerostar landed on runway 15, a Piper Malibu landed on runway 6, and their right wings contacted at the runway intersection. The pilot of the Aerostar utilized the current Unicom frequency, and was told the winds were favoring runway 15, which was the active runway. The pilot of the Aerostar flew a left traffic pattern for runway 15, radioed position reports, and monitored a Cessna that was also in the traffic pattern for runway 15. The pilot of the Aerostar did not observe any other traffic as he landed on runway 15. The pilot of the Piper Malibu reported a 9-mile final for runway 6, on a radio frequency that had been out-of-date for longer than one year. The pilot of the Piper Malibu did not observe any traffic, and proceeded to land on runway 6. The pilot of the Piper Malibu was using a global positioning system, and did not refer to his onboard approach charts, which listed the correct frequency. The reported wind about the time of the accident was from 130 degrees at 11 knots.
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 for the Piper PA-46-310P from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,140 hours in all; 2,040 in this make and model; 140 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 19,484 as pilot in command; 4,126 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,937 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2005; 167 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6-34 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N99 West Chester PA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: DKK Dunkirk NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 6, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.36 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from DKK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
The factual record for the Smith, Ted Aerostar 601P from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,416 hours in all; 1,510 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 5,245 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,337 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2005; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JHW Jamestown NY at 4:40 pm
- Destination: DKK Dunkirk NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
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.