# NTSB IAD80FKM10: Stits Playby, N3732, China Grove, NC, February 27, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 27, 1980
- Place: China Grove, NC · CHINA GROVE, NC
- Location: 35.5723° N, 80.5749° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of China Grove, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5723&lon=-80.5749&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132307
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD80FKM10
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD80FKM10

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0073  80/2/27    CHINA GROVE,NC      STITS PLAYBY        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 41, 2500
        TIME - 1830                    N3732               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CHINA GROVE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CHINA GROVE,NC              CHINA GROVE,NC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,ALTITUDE OR CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DISREGARD OF GOOD OPERATING PRACTICE
        REMARKS- PILOT DID SEVERAL LOOPS PRIOR TO IMPACT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3732](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3732-1980-07-14), registration cancelled 1980-07-14, S/N 1 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STITS PLAYBY
- Registry model: [Stits PLAYBOY](https://openairdocs.org/model/stits-playboy) (registry code 86502HB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: China Grove

## 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 19800227004489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800227004489A), Feb 27, 1980: Amtrsa STITSSJ, China Grove, NC, Destroyed. Performed loops over airport at a low altitude. Came out of a loop, then hit trees off end of runway.

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.
