Cessna 310Q accident near Amarillo, Texas, November 8, 1983
On November 8, 1983 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Cessna 310Q, registered N218JW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Amarillo, Texas (Tradewinds airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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 8, 1983 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Amarillo, Texas · Tradewinds · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310Q · all 310Qs on the register
- Registration
- N218JW · no longer on the register · serial 310Q-1023
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS STARTING A FLT TO REPOSITION THE ACFT FROM THE TRADEWIND ARPT TO THE AMARILLO INTL ARPT. HE REPORTED THAT HE HAD STARTED TO TAKEOFF ON RWY 17, THEN ABORTED TO AVOID A CESSNA 182. HE REPORTED THE CESSNA 182 PLT WAS CROSSING RWY 17, ON HIS WAY TO RWY 23. THE PLT OF N218JW STATED THAT WHEN HE RETARDED THE THROTTLE TO ABORT, HE ALSO VEERED TO THE RIGHT. AT THAT TIME, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR & NOSEWHEEL WENT OFF THE ASPHALT & INTO AN AREA OF GRASS. WHEN HE TRIED TO STEER BACK ONTO THE PAVED SURFACE, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. AN EXAM OF THE AREA SHOWED THAT THE PAVEMENT IN THAT AREA WAS ABOUT 4 TO 5 INCHES HIGHER THAN THE DIRT WHERE THE GRASS WAS GROWING. THE PLT STATED THAT FROM THE COCKPIT, THE DROP-OFF WAS NOT APPARENT.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 19,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 284 in the last 90 days; 18,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 5,100 ft by 55 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.