# NTSB ATL83AA184: Aero Commander 680, N6880S, Titusville, FL, May 12, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: May 12, 1983, 12:05 local (16:05 UTC)
- Place: Titusville, FL
- Coordinates: 28.57982, -80.819717 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5798&lon=-80.8197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5879
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83AA184
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5879/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=5879
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83AA184

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - qualification, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - overload
  - wing - separation
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - overload
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT BRIEFLY BEFORE IT CRASHED. ONE WITNESS SAW THE ACFT FLYING TOWARD A DARK CLOUD AT AN UNKNOWN ALT, BUT TOO HIGH TO FLY UNDER IT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, HE HEARD THE ENG NOISE INCREASE & DECREASE, THEN INCREASE UNTIL IT WAS LOUD. HE THEN HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. HE DID NOT SEE THE CRASH, BUT SAW SMOKE FROM THE CRASH. SITE. A WOMAN CLOSE TO THE CRASH SITE SAID THE WX WAS VERY WINDY, HEAVY RAIN WAS FALLING & VISIBILITY WAS RESTRICTED. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE OUTBOARD WING PANELS HAD FAILED FROM POSITIVE OVERLOADS & THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER HAD FAILED DOWNWARD. THESE PARTS WERE FOUND 3/4 TO 1 MI FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. PRIOR TO THE FLT, A PASSENGER, WHO PAID FOR FUEL & MINOR MAINTENANCE, SAID THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS FOR SURVEYING. HOWEVER, NO SURVEYING EQUIPMENT WAS ON BOARD. SHERIFF PERSONNEL SAID THE ACFT WAS UNDER SURVEILLANCE FOR AN ILLEGAL OPERATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6880S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6880S-2013-08-20), registration cancelled 2013-08-20, S/N 680-403-80, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 680
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 680](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-680) (registry code 0141602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming GSO&IGSO-480 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-gso-igso-480-series) (registry code 41529, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 680-403-80
- Engines: LYCOMING GSO-480-B1A6 340 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Roger Franklin Brumley
- Registered owner: H & R Surveys, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: EUF, EUFAULA, AL
- Destination: HWO, HOLLYWOOD, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,700 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day

## 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 19830512018869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830512018869A), May 12, 1983: Gulstm 680, Titusville, FL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Aircraft flew into area of thunderstorm and wings and horizontal tail failed in turbulence.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 11, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=5879. 8.2 MB in all.

- Accident Docket Redacted (item 1, .PDF, 8.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486081&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Docket%20Redacted-Master.PDF

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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