Amateur-built SA-300 accident near Grants, New Mexico, August 6, 1985
On August 6, 1985 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built SA-300, registered N65010, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grants, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 1985 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grants, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SA-300
- Registration
- N65010 · no longer on the register · serial BJ101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF N65010, A STARDUSTER II ON 8/6/85 TOOK OFF FROM GRANTS, NM AT ABOUT 1100 MDT, SOUTH BOUND TO INTERCEPT WINSLOW, AZ VOR, RADIAL 255. WHEN TRYING TO GAIN ALTITUDE THE PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT FELT THE EFFECTS OF DENSITY ALTITUDE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO REACH THE AIRWAY ALTITUDE. A DOWN-DRAFT FINALLY CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO LOSE FORWARD AIRSPEED CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO CRASH IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE ELEVATOR TRIM WAS IN A FULL NOSE UP CONDITION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DEMOLISHED. THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE ELT ACTIVATED WHICH LED TO THE PILOT'S RESCUE. ACCIDENT ALT WAS 7400 FT MSL.
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: 210 hours in all; 65 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1985; 9,231 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GNT Grants NM
- Destination: 1NW Winslow AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.