| Crash location | Unknown |
| Nearest city | Gallup, NM
35.528078°N, 108.742584°W |
| Tail number | N111HC |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 12 May 2001 |
| Aircraft type | 1977 COLFER-CHAN Steen Skybolt |
| Additional details: | None |
On May 12, 2001, at 1030 mountain daylight time, a 1977 Colfer-Chan Steen Skybolt airplane, N111HC, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during landing roll when it departed the side of the runway into a ditch at Gallup Municipal Airport, Gallup, New Mexico. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local personal flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Gallup at 0800.
According to the pilot, he experienced a "dust devil" during the landing roll on runway 06 which pulled the aircraft off the runway into sandy terrain and encountered a ditch. The left wings of the biplane were folded aft.
The recorded wind at the airport at 1053 was from 140 degrees at 9 knots with gusts to 17 knots, which resulted in an 80 degree right crosswind of 8 knots with gusts to 15 knots for the landing on runway 06.
The pilot had 10 hours experience in the accident aircraft make and model, all of which was accomplished in the 90 day period preceding the accident.
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll. Contributing factors were gusting crosswinds and the pilots's lack of experience in aircraft make and model.