Cessna 310F accident near Marfa, Texas, May 14, 1985
On May 14, 1985 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Cessna 310F, registered N5838X, was destroyed in an accident near Marfa, Texas (Marfa Muni airport). It was a personal 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
- May 14, 1985 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Marfa, Texas · Marfa Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310F · all 310Fs on the register
- Registration
- N5838X · no longer on the register · serial 310-0138
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL PWR LOSS FROM THE RIGHT ENG DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB AND IN HIS HASTE TO CIRCLE BACK AND LAND DID NOT ALLOW THE ACFT TO GAIN ALT. HE THEN FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND AS A RESULT, LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT AND STALLED WITHOUT SUFFICIENT ALT TO AFFECT RECOVERY BEFORE GROUND IMPACT. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DISCLOSED SEVERAL DISCEPANCIES. 1) THE INDUCTION AIR FILTER WAS CLOGGED WITH DIRT/DEBRIS, 2) THE AUTOMATIC AIR DOOR HINGE WAS BROKEN PREVENTING THE DOOR FROM REMAINING CLOSED AND 3) THE AUTOMATIC AIR DOOR HINGE BEHIND THE MANUAL ALTERNATE AIR BUTTERFLY WAS BROKEN. THE SPARK PLUGS ON THE RIGHT ENG WERE CARBON FOULED.
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: 4,697 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,901 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1985; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,830 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRF Marfa TX at 9:08 pm
- Destination: El Paso TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:10 pm from MRF
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.