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
NTSB Prelim: Piper PA-23
See All