Cessna 210N accident near Childress, Texas, November 16, 1983
On November 16, 1983 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 210N, registered N6616N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Childress, Texas (Childress Municipal airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 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
- November 16, 1983 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Childress, Texas · Childress Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210N · all 210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6616N · no longer on the register · serial 21063120
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT CONTACTE FSS REQUESTING INFO AS TO FUEL SERVICE. HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE RWY LIGHTS AT CHILDRESS ARPT WAS OUT OF SERVICE. ABOUT 34 MIN LATER THE PLT STATED HIS ENG HAD QUIT & HE WOULD TRY TO MAKE THE ARPT. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK POWER LINES ABOUT 2 MI NE OF THE ARPT. ABOUT 1/2 CUP OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE FUEL TANKS. THREE SACKS OF MARIJUANA WERE ON BOARD.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,495 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 22, 1982; 103 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:59 am from CDS, 2 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.