Tradewind Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Amarillo, Texas 79121
Wednesday, May 24, 1989 13:10 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT SAID THEY HAD CHECKED THE WEIGHT AND BALANCED OF THE AIRPLANE AND HAD DRAINED FUEL TO KEEP THE WEIGHT DOWN TO A POINT WITHIN LIMITS. HE SAID THAT EVERYTHING SOUNDED AND FELT NORMAL UNTIL LIFTOFF AND THEN THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO SETTLE. THE AIRPLANE WENT ACROSS A HIGHWAY, BETWEEN CARS AND WENT THROUGH THREE FENCES BEFORE IT STOPPED. THE ENGINE WAS NOT TORN DOWN BUT THE DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER BLADES INDICATED THAT SUBSTANTIAL ENGINE POWER WAS BEING TRANSMITTED TO THE PROPELLER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE PERFORMANCE CHARTS, THE AIRPLANE WOULD HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF BEING OPERATED SAFELY FROM THE SELECTED RUNWAY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE TO ATTAIN LIFTOFF SPEED AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/24/1989
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1310
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City AMARILLO
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79121
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TRADEWIND
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TDW
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 3642
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 245
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 694
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 24 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40200
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:40PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6760C
NTSB Number FTW89LA099
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model A36TC
Aircraft Series Identifier A36TC
Aircraft Serial Number EA 134
Certified Max Gross Weight 3833
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 3 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 1105
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name L. DALE POWHELL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4411 RIDGECREST
Aircraft Owner City AMARILLO
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79114
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name L.L.POWNELL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4411 RIDGECREST, BOX 8278
Operator City AMARILLO
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 79114
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code TDW
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1310
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code F56
Destination City STAMFORD
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --