North American Rockwell Corp. 680 accident near Bayport, New York, July 28, 1983
On July 28, 1983 at about 7:15 pm local time, a North American Rockwell Corp. 680, registered N6878S, was destroyed in an accident near Bayport, New York (Bayport airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- July 28, 1983 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Bayport, New York · Bayport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American Rockwell Corp. 680
- Registration
- N6878S · no longer on the register · serial 409-85
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT ABOUT 60 FT AGL BLACK SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE LEFT ENG. THE ACFT CONTINUED A CLIMB IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE& THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN & THE ACFT ROLLED INVERTED. ENG TEARDOWN REVEALED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE SUPERCHARGER ASSEMBLY.THE IMPELLER SHAFT WAS BENT & ITS ASSOCIATED BEARING DAMAGED. THE ACFT HAD NOT FLOWN FOR ABOUT 14 YRS. ENG SERVICE INSTRUCTIONS DESCRIBE PRE-OILING OF THE SUPERCHARGER DRIVE SHAFT BEARING AFTER ANY PROLONGED PERIOD OF INACTIVITY. THE OWNER, A PARAPLEGIC, WAS SEATED IN THE LEFT SEAT. THE PLT SEATED IN THE RIGHT SEAT HAD A HISTORY OF HEART & PULMONARY DISEASE. THE GEAR & FLAPS WERE IN THE DOWN POSITION. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, A WITNESS ASKED THE OWNER 'ARE YOU DOING THE ELEVATORS AND AILERONS AND IS HE YOUR RUDDERS.' THE OWNER RESPONDED WITH 'WE HAVE AN ARRANGEMENT.'
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,967 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 22, 1983; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GSO-480-B1AC (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: ISP Islip NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,740 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from ISP, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.