Beech V35B accident near Amarillo, Texas, January 14, 1985
On January 14, 1985 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Beech V35B, registered N6735T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Amarillo, Texas (Tradewind airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- January 14, 1985 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Amarillo, Texas · Tradewind
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6735T · no longer on the register · serial D-10374
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF, THE CABIN DOOR OPENED & THE PLT ELECTED TO RETURN FOR A LANDING. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS DISTRACTED BY WIND NOISE & 'NERVOUSNESS' AND FAILED TO ASSURE THAT THE GEAR WAS EXTENDED. AS HE FLARED, THE PROPELLER CONTACTED THE RWY. THE PLT ADDED POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLIMB & EXTEND THE GEAR; HOWEVER, IT ONLY PARTIALLY EXTENDED & THE ACFT SETTLED BACK TO THE RWY BEFORE THE GEAR COULD FULLY EXTEND & LOCK IN THE DOWN POSITION.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 540 hours in all; 320 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 490 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Chaparral Tradewind Aviation
The flight
- Destination: PPA Pampa TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,100 ft by 55 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N6735T the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.