Amateur-built STEEN SKYBOLT accident near Gallup, New Mexico, May 12, 2001
On May 12, 2001 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built STEEN SKYBOLT, registered N111HC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gallup, New Mexico (Gallup airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2001 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gallup, New Mexico · Gallup · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built STEEN SKYBOLT
- Registration
- N111HC · registry record · serial C-1-1977
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing roll, a right crosswind of 8 knots with gusts to 15 knots was encountered. The biplane departed the side of the runway into sandy terrain and encountered a ditch. The left wings were folded aft. The pilot had 10 hours experience in the aircraft make and model, all of which was accomplished in the 90 day period preceding the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,400 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 18, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 406 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 2001; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GUP Gallup NM at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 7,312 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 9 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from GUP, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DEN01LA097.