Tradewinds Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Amarillo, Texas 79107
Tuesady, November 8, 1983 17:20 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT WAS STARTING A FLT TO REPOSITION THE ACFT FROM THE TRADEWIND ARPT TO THE AMARILLO INTL ARPT. HE REPORTED THAT HE HAD STARTED TO TAKEOFF ON RWY 17, THEN ABORTED TO AVOID A CESSNA 182. HE REPORTED THE CESSNA 182 PLT WAS CROSSING RWY 17, ON HIS WAY TO RWY 23. THE PLT OF N218JW STATED THAT WHEN HE RETARDED THE THROTTLE TO ABORT, HE ALSO VEERED TO THE RIGHT. AT THAT TIME, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR & NOSEWHEEL WENT OFF THE ASPHALT & INTO AN AREA OF GRASS. WHEN HE TRIED TO STEER BACK ONTO THE PAVED SURFACE, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. AN EXAM OF THE AREA SHOWED THAT THE PAVEMENT IN THAT AREA WAS ABOUT 4 TO 5 INCHES HIGHER THAN THE DIRT WHERE THE GRASS WAS GROWING. THE PLT STATED THAT FROM THE COCKPIT, THE DROP-OFF WAS NOT APPARENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/8/1983
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1720
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City AMARILLO
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79107
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TRADEWINDS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TDW
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 3642
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1155
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 23411
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:16AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N218JW
NTSB Number FTW84LA053
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 310Q
Aircraft Series Identifier 310Q
Aircraft Serial Number 310Q-1023
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 1 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES L. WHYTE
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 2091
Aircraft Owner City AMARILLO
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79166
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RAY OPPEL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7303 STACEY
Operator City AMARILLO
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 79121
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Ferry
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 5100
Runway Width 55
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --