Amateur-built BANDIT 1 and Cessna 150M accident near Amarillo, Texas, November 11, 1984
On November 11, 1984 at about 4:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built BANDIT 1 (N51957) and Cessna 150M (N3376V), were involved in the same accident near Amarillo, Texas (Tradewind airport). No one was hurt; 2 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 11, 1984 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Amarillo, Texas · Tradewind
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built BANDIT 1
- Registration
- N51957 · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N3376V · registry record · serial 15076481
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built BANDIT 1 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HOMEBUILT ACFT, N51957, WAS OBSERVED TO LAND HARD, COLLAPSE THE LANDING GEAR & SLIDE INTO N3376V HOLDING SHORT OF THE RWY AT AN INTERSECTING TAXIWAY.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 150M final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HOMEBUILT ACFT, N52957, WAS OBSERVED TO LAND HARD, COLLAPSE THE LANDING GEAR & SLIDE INTO N3376V HOLDING SHORT OF THE RWY AT AN INTERSECTING TAXIWAY.
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 for the amateur-built BANDIT 1 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1835 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1EA Canyon TX at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,738 ft by 56 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:48 am from AMA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 150M from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 70 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 35 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,600 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F01 Quanah TX at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 5,100 ft by 55 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.