On December 9, 1979, a Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) (registration N600WW) operated by Big Pine Trucking Company was involved in an aviation accident near Bishop, United States of America in flight. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft entered a stall during a low-altitude pass due to the pilot's failure to maintain adequate flying speed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
A single-pilot training flight ended in a fatal crash near Bishop Airport when the aircraft entered an aerodynamic stall.
What happened
During a solo training session in the area surrounding Bishop Airport, a pilot was conducting a practice flight. While operating at a low altitude, the aircraft experienced a loss of control. The plane subsequently stalled and impacted a nearby field.
The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. There was one fatality involving the pilot, who was the only person on board at the time of the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the incident was caused by a stall occurring during a low-altitude pass. This aerodynamic stall was triggered because the pilot did not maintain sufficient airspeed during the maneuver.
Probable cause
The aircraft entered a stall during a low-altitude pass due to the pilot's failure to maintain adequate flying speed.