Sierra Blanca Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ruidoso, New Mexico 88345
Sunday, May 1, 1988 13:38 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PLT WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION FLIGHT. THE CONTROL TOWER REPORTED HIGH WINDS AND STRONG GUSTS. DURING LANDING ROLL, A GUST LIFTED THE LEFT WING TO NEAR VERTICAL, THEN LET IT FALL. THE NOSE GEAR AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED DOWN. A WITNESS IN THE CONTROL TOWER REPORTED THAT THE GUST EXCEEDED 60 KNOTS. PREVIOUSLY THE TOWER REPORTED THE WIND WAS FROM 210 DEGREES AT 25 KNOTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/1/1988
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1338
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City RUIDOSO
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88345
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SIERRA BLANCA REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SRR
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 6811
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1338 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID SRR
Elevation of weather observation facility 6811
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 25
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 50
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 8800
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 455
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 1 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36161
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N618T
NTSB Number DEN88LA104
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 H35
Aircraft Series Identifier H35
Aircraft Serial Number D-5242
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 Nov 13 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 41
Airframe Hours 3880
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HICKS, TRAVIS B.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1049
Aircraft Owner City RUIDOSO DOWNS
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 88345
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ABQ
Departure City ALBUQUERQUE
Departure State NM
Departure Country
Departure Time 1201
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24
Runway Length 8100
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --