Globe GC-1B accident near Rockwood, Tennessee, May 29, 1984
On May 29, 1984 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Globe GC-1B, registered N3754K, was destroyed in an accident near Rockwood, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- May 29, 1984 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rockwood, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Globe GC-1B · all GC-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3754K · no longer on the register · serial 1447
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED IN AN AREA OF RISING TERRAIN AT ABOUT THE 1800 FT LEVEL. ABOUT 1 MILE AWAY THE RIDGE LINE ROSE TO AN ELEVATION OF 2500 FT. WHEN THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED OVERFLYING THE ROCKWOOD ARPT APRX 3 MILES FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE THE CEILING WAS ABOUT 1200 FT AND VISIBILITY ESTIMATED AT 3 MILES. THE ACFT WAS FLYING AT ABOUT 800 FT AGL ON A HEADING OF ABOUT 315 DEGREES. THE ACFT CRASHED ON A HEADING OF ABOUT 150 DEGREES IN A STEEP DESCENT. THE PLT HAD DELAYED HIS DEPARTURE BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER. WHEN HE DEPARTED HE TOLD HIS LISTENERS THAT THE WEATHER HAD IMPROVED SO IT WAS OK TO GO. THEY BELIEVED LATER THAT HE WAS REFERRING TO DESTINATION WEATHER AS THE EN ROUTE WEATHER STILL HAD NOT IMPROVED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 753 hours in all; 5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,217 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 1,710 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Athens TN at 6:00 pm
- Destination: Champaign TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from CSV, 15 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.