The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its preliminary report into the fatal July 13 crash of a Smith Aerostar 601P (N800AA) near Adirondack Regional Airport in Saranac Lake, New York, revealing the aircraft never climbed higher than about 125 feet above the ground before the accident.
According to investigators, the twin-engine aircraft had earlier completed an uneventful flight from Belmar, New Jersey, to Saranac Lake. The pilot, who intended to pick up two family members and return to New Jersey the same evening, departed Runway 23 at approximately 10:35 p.m. However, the airplane disappeared from surveillance data just 46 seconds after takeoff, about one mile beyond the departure end of the runway. During the short flight, it descended from roughly 125 feet to around 75 feet above ground level and remained at that low altitude until contact was lost.
A nearby home security camera captured the sound of the aircraft’s engines moments before the noise of a collision with trees. Emergency crews located the wreckage about four hours later, where a post-impact fire had consumed much of the cockpit and cabin. Investigators found both engines near the main wreckage with their propellers still attached, while debris stretched for nearly half a mile through a wooded area.
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with instrument and multi-engine ratings and had logged more than 1,000 flight hours. The 1976-built Aerostar had undergone its most recent annual inspection in February 2026.
The NTSB emphasized that this is only a preliminary report. Investigators are continuing to examine the wreckage and analyze the home security video, including its audio, to determine what caused the aircraft to lose altitude shortly after takeoff. A final report with the probable cause will be released after the investigation is complete.
