Aero Commander 680F accident near Charleston, Tennessee, February 20, 1984
On February 20, 1984 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Aero Commander 680F, registered N6000F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Charleston, Tennessee. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 1984 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Charleston, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 680F · all 680Fs on the register
- Registration
- N6000F · no longer on the register · serial 1375-141
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED DURING A FERRY FLIGHT AND THE PLT COULD NOT RECALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE FLIGHT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ACFT HAD BEEN PARKED ON THE SERVICE RAMP FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS WITHOUT BEING USED. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS RECORDED ON 9-1-81. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD ORDERED THE ACFT RESTORED TO AN AIRWORTHY CONDITION BUT THE ACFT WAS NOT FOUND AIRWORTHY DUE TO LOW OIL PRESSURE AND METAL IN BOTH ENGINES. ALSO THE GEAR WAS NOT CONSIDERED SAFE FOR RETRACTION. THE ACFT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY SOLD TO A NEW OWNER WHO SENT AN A&P/PLT TO WORK ON THE ACFT. THIS PLT HAD WORKED FOR THE NEW OWNER ON PREVIOUS OCCASSIONS FERRYING ACFT. THE PLT WORKED ON THE ACFT FOR SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE DEPARTING FOR CHATTANOOGA. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT ENG WAS NOT DEVELOPING POWER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE THROTTLE AND PROP LEVERS WERE FOUND IN THE CLOSED POSITION. AN ENG RUNUP FOUND BOTH ENGS NOT AIRWORTHY DUE TO OIL PRESSURE PROBLEMS & METAL IN THE SCREENS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1981
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IGSO-540-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TRI Blountville TN
- Destination: CHA Chattanooga TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from CHA, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.