Robertson C-414 accident near Lindale, Texas, July 29, 1982
On July 29, 1982, a Robertson C-414, registered N110VM, was destroyed in an accident near Lindale, Texas (Garden Valley (Pvt) airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 12 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 29, 1982
- Place
- Lindale, Texas · Garden Valley (Pvt) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 12 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robertson C-414
- Registration
- N110VM · no longer on the register · serial 414-0390
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
7-SEAT ACFT TOOK OFF WITH 4 ADULTS & 8 CHILDREN ABOARD. ACFT ROTATED AT ABOUT 2000 FT DOWN RWY & CLIMBED IN A FLAT NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE BEFORE SETTLING INTO 30 FT TREES ABOUT 4223 FT FROM POINT OF LIFT-OFF. ACFT OSCILLATED VIOLENTLY 2 OR 3 TIMES IN THE PITCH AXIS DURING THE 20-30 SEC FLT. ACFT WAS ABOUT 445 LBS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT & CG WAS 4.26 INCHES AFT OF THE AFT LIMIT. ON 6/9/82 THE PLT TOOK A CHECKRIDE TO HAVE A "CENTERLINE THRUST ONLY" RESTRICTION REMOVED FROM HIS MULTI-ENG RATING. 59 OF HIS 62 HRS MULTI-ENG WERE AS COPILOT. HE HAD NO FORMAL C-414 TRAINING & HAD RECD ONLY 2 HRS OF INSTRUCTION IN CONVENTIONAL MULTI-ENG ACFT. HE HAD NEVER BEEN REQUIRED TO PERFORM WT/BAL COMPUTATIONS IN HIS MILITARY FLYING OR ANY FAA EXAM OR CHECKRIDES. CO MANAGEMENT DID NOT COMPLY WITH INSURANCE STIPULATIONS WHICH REQUIRED PLT OF THEFLT TO ATTEND A CESSNA FLT TRAINING SCHOOL, NOR DID THE PLT SATISFY THE MINIMUM HR REQUIREMENTS. FAA CERT EXAMINER LOST CERT ON 7/10/82, HISTORY OF INCOMPLETE OR SUBSTANDARD CHECKRIDES. OCCUPANTS DIED OF THERMAL BURNS & SMOKE INHALATION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 758 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 691 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,459 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,350 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-N (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Lindale TX at 7:21 pm
- Destination: Lindale TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,163 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 194°F (90°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:44 pm from TYR, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 11 |
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.