Titusville – Vero Beach

On May 18, 1982 at 03:48 PM, Titusville – Vero Beach experienced a crash involving Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601), operated by Air Security Transport, with the event recorded near Titusville Florida.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 50.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Shortly after takeoff witnesses observed the aircraft in a steep left bank descending until it crashed approximately 1,200 feet northwest of the departure end of the runway. According to the passenger the initial climb distracting the attention of the pilot who lost control of the aircraft while attempting to close the door. The inadvertent opening of the top section of the cabin door in flight is not considered critical. The before starting engines and before takeoff check lists call for "cabin door closed and locked pin indicators check on green mark." According to the passenger the pilot performed a cockpit check without the aid of a written check list. The pilot was killed while the passenger was seriously injured.

Aircraft reference details include registration N90702, MSN 61P-0339-100, year of manufacture 1977.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 28.6126°, -80.8080°.