Boeing 737-300 accident near Amarillo, Texas, April 29, 1985
On April 29, 1985 at about 2:17 am local time, a Boeing 737-300, registered N300SW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Amarillo, Texas (Amarillo Intl airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person had minor injuries; 132 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 29, 1985 · about 2:17 am local time
- Place
- Amarillo, Texas · Amarillo Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 132 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-300 · all 737-300s on the register
- Registration
- N300SW · registry record · serial 22940
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LANDED IN A THUNDERSTORM, WINDS RECORDED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT EXCEEDED THE LIMITS RECOMMENDED FOR FULL REVERSE THRUST. THE ACFT HYDROPLANED, WEATHER-COCKED SLIGHTLY, AND SLID OFF THE DOWNWIND SIDE OF THE 300 FT WIDE RWY. THE NOSEWHEEL COLLAPSED AT IMPACT WITH A RWY LIGHT, AND PENETRATED THE PRESSURE VESSEL. ONE PASSENGER REPORTED A MINOR INJURY DURING THE EVACUATION. REVERSE THRUST WAS MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE ROLLOUT; HYDROPLANE SKID MARKS EXTENDED FROM AT OR NEAR THE INITIAL TOUCHDOWN POINT TO DEPARTURE FROM THE RWY.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,245 hours in all; 3,200 in this make and model; 221 in the last 90 days; 4,130 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,342 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 23, 1985; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 135,000 lb
- Seats: 137
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ge CFM-56-3 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ Albuquerque NM at 1:17 am
- Destination: AMA Amarillo TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 4, 13,502 ft by 300 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 20 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:16 am from AMA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 5 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 127 |
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.