# NTSB FTW80FA052: Rockwell 112, N1098J, Witt Springs, AR, March 4, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 4, 1980
- Place: Witt Springs, AR · WITT SPRINGS, AR
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131842
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FA052
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FA052

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0371   80/3/4    WITT SPRINGS,AR     ROCKWELL 112        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 54, 5113
        TIME - 1115                    N1098J              PX-  0  0  1  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MOUNTAIN HOME,AR            CORSICANA,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- MOUNTAIN SLOPE OBSCURED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1098J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1098J-1980-08-16), registration cancelled 1980-08-16, S/N 100 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROCKWELL 112
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 112](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-112) (registry code 0144701) (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 19800304004809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800304004809A), Mar 4, 1980: Rkwell 112, Witt Springs, AR, Destroyed. Departed VFR into low ceiling and visiblity in mountainous terrain. Flew into trees on side of mountain.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.