# NTSB ATL80FA065: Piper PA-23, N6087Y, Rockford, TN, July 3, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 3, 1980
- Place: Rockford, TN · ROCKFORD, TN
- Location: 35.8344° N, 83.9361° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rockford, TN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8344&lon=-83.9361&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 24, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129121
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL80FA065
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL80FA065

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2408   80/7/3    ROCKFORD,TN         PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 54, 4750
        TIME - 1744                    N6087Y              PX-  4  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ST.PETERSBURG,FL            TROY,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN AREAS OF SEVERE TURBULENCE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES - FLIGHT AND NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS: ATTITUDE GYRO
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - SQUALL LINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  2700
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       73
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          350                                                       16
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- GIVEN SIGMET DRG WX BRIEFING.PLT PREVIOUSLY REPORTED VERT GYRO INDCR LAZY & INTERMITTENT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6087Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6087Y-2013-07-16), registration cancelled 2013-07-16, S/N 27-3291, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19800703024149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800703024149A), Jul 3, 1980: Piper PA23250, Rockford, TN, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Proceeded into known frontal area. Lost control in severe turbulence and downdrafts. Desintigrated on impact.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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