Van's RV6A N60605

Summary

On 11 June 2023 at about 23:10 local time, a Van's RV6A registered N60605 was involved in an accident near Mimbres, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 June 2023 at 23:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Mimbres, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Casas Adobes Airpark (NM69)

Coordinates

32.8142, -107.9400

Aircraft

Van's RV6A

Registration

N60605

Category

Airplane

Year built

2001

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Moriarty → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR23LA230

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s inflight loss of control while landing with wind gusts that resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose over.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to landing, the pilot made a low pass from north to south to check the windsock, which indicated a crosswind from the southwest; it was stable and not flapping and favored runway 16. During the landing flare, the airplane was struck by a gust of wind and the nose rose upward at a steep angle and then slammed back onto the ground. The nose wheel landing gear bent, and as the airplane slid down the runway the bent nose landing gear dug into the ground and the airplane flipped onto its back. The pilot reported that there was no evidence of any preexisting mechanical malfunction with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.