Incident Details
The pilot of N218JW was preparing to depart Tradewind Airport for a repositioning flight to Amarillo International Airport. During the takeoff roll on Runway 17, the pilot observed a Cessna 182 crossing the runway, heading towards Runway 23. To avoid a collision, the pilot aborted the takeoff by retarding the throttle.
Sequence of Events
As the throttle was reduced, the pilot also steered the aircraft to the right. This maneuver caused the right main landing gear and the nosewheel to leave the asphalt surface and enter an area of grass. When the pilot attempted to steer the aircraft back onto the paved surface, the nose gear collapsed.
Examination Findings
An examination of the area revealed that the pavement edge was approximately 4 to 5 inches higher than the adjacent dirt where grass was growing. The pilot stated that from the cockpit, this drop-off was not apparent, which contributed to the difficulty in steering back onto the runway.