Cessna 310N accident near Abiquiu, New Mexico, April 3, 1985
On April 3, 1985 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 310N, registered N5060Q, was destroyed in an accident near Abiquiu, New Mexico (Ghost Ranch airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- April 3, 1985 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Abiquiu, New Mexico · Ghost Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310N · all 310Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5060Q · no longer on the register · serial 310N-0160
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM A ROUGH, UNIMPROVED AIRSTRIP WITH A 3% UPHILL GRADIENT, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, LIFTED THE AIRPLANE OFF THE GROUND, CLEARED A BOUNDARY FENCE, STALLED, AND CRASHED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE.
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
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 28,329 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 12, 1984; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-VO (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ABQ Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,200 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:47 pm from SAD, 48 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.