Aerostar 600A accident near Mapleton, Maine, April 10, 1998
On April 10, 1998 at about 10:37 pm local time, a Aerostar 600A, registered N7527S, was destroyed in an accident near Mapleton, Maine (Presque Isle airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 1998 · about 10:37 pm local time
- Place
- Mapleton, Maine · Presque Isle
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar 600A
- Registration
- N7527S · registry record · serial 60-0188-084
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The twin-engine Aerostar departed on Runway 1. While on initial climb, after take-off, witnesses observed the airplane roll to the left until it became inverted, after which the nose dropped and the airplane impacted the ground in a near vertical nose down attitude. The fuselage was consumed with a post crash fire. On-site examination revealed the wing flaps and landing gear were retracted. No evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found relating to the airplane, engines, or propellers. The investigation revealed that both propellers were rotating and absorbing power at the time of impact. The winds were reported from 360 degrees at 17 knots, with gusts to 25 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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 123 in this make and model; 123 in the last 30 days; 1,434 as pilot in command; 620 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,286 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 1998; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Maine Flight Center LTD.
The flight
- Departed from: PQI at 10:35 pm
- Destination: BGR Bangor ME
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 1, 7,440 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 17 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:32 pm from PQI
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.