FAA Probing Two Previous Incidents

The pilot of the Smith Aerostar 601 that crashed into a golf course mansion near Austin Tuesday was under investigation for two other mishaps, according to FAA records.

Richard Fisher and five other people were killed when the aircraft went down Tuesday. Prior to that accident, Fisher, of Oklahoma City (OK), had reportedly skidded off a runway at Kingfisher (OK) on April 30th. Records show Fisher was on approach to the airport in Watonga when he diverted to Kingfisher. Flying the same Aerostar 601 that crashed on Tuesday, Fisher reported to government officials that he landed downwind and was blown off the grass strip. The aircraft ran through a barbed wire fence before coming to a halt.

In the second prior incident, the FAA said Fisher, flying a Piper Aerostar, ran out of fuel on September 16th, 2002, about a mile north of Sundance Airport (OK). The aircraft went down in a field and was severely damaged.

In both cases, Fisher walked away. Both investigations are still underway, according to the FAA.

One of Fisher's competitors at Wiley Post Airport (OK) said his company had been trying to shut down Fisher's company, Aviation Flight Specialists, for years. The anonymous competitor said Fisher's company was flying illegal charters and that the FAA had promised resolution in the case by next week.

Fisher had just departed Lakeway Airpark near Austin (TX) when he was heard on the strip's Unicom frequency saying, "Oh God, I'm in trouble. I have three people with me."

In fact, he had five other people on board the aircraft when it went down. The dead were identified as Fisher, Curtis Treadwell, his wife Jennifer, their two young children, and Jason Jones. Three people inside the home where the Aerostar crashed escaped without injury.

FAA Preliminary Accident Report

IDENTIFICATION
 Regis#: 601BV    Make/Model: AERO   Description: SMITH AEROSTAR 601P
 Date: 08/03/2004   Time: 1705

 Event Type: Accident  Highest Injury: Fatal   Mid Air: N  Missing: N
 Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
 City: AUSTIN           State: TX  Country: US

DESCRIPTION
 ACFT CRASHED AFTER TAKEOFF INTO A RESIDENCE UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES,
 THE SIX PERSONS ON BOARD WERE FATALLY INJURED AND THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED,
 NEAR LAKEWAY AIRPORT, AUSTIN, TX

INJURY DATA   Total Fatal:  6
         # Crew:  1  Fat:  1   Ser:  0   Min:  0   Unk: 
         # Pass:   5  Fat:  5   Ser:  0   Min:  0   Unk: 
         # Grnd:       Fat:  0   Ser:  0   Min:  0   Unk: 

WEATHER: METAR KAUS 16003KT 10SM SCT035 SCT150 32/24 996               
                                           
 OTHER DATA
 Activity: Unknown   Phase: Take-off   Operation: General Aviation

 Departed: LAKEWAY AIRPORT       Dep Date: 08/03/2004  Dep. Time: 1705
 Destination: OKLAHOMA CITY, OK    Flt Plan: UNK     Wx Briefing: U
 Last Radio Cont: 2 NW 3R9 PRIOR TO LNDG
 Last Clearance: NONE

 FAA FSDO: SAN ANTONIO, TX (SW17)        Entry date: 08/04/2004

FMI: www.ntsb.gov, http://aviationflightspecialists.com