Davis RV-6A accident near Truth Or Cnsqnc, New Mexico, May 6, 1999
On May 6, 1999 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Davis RV-6A, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N8117Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Truth Or Cnsqnc, New Mexico (Truth Or Consequences Mun airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A soft runway surface that caused the airplane to nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 1999 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Truth Or Cnsqnc, New Mexico · Truth Or Consequences Mun · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Davis RV-6A, amateur-built
- Registration
- N8117Q · no longer on the register · serial 25227
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
This was the maiden flight of N8117Q. After testing the airplane for 3 hours, the pilot returned to the airport for landing. Although the wind was reported to be at 7 knots and favoring runway 13, the pilot was forced to abandon two landing approaches because of the turbulence. The airport Unicom then reported the winds to be variable and favoring runway 11. The pilot made a 'smooth' landing on runway 11. The airplane rolled for about 40 or 50 feet, then nosed over when the nose landing gear sheared off. He said it felt like the brakes had been applied. Postaccident inspection of the runway revealed the landing gear had settled 6 to 7 inches into the soft sand. The tires on the RV-6A are only 3 inches wide and protrude about 3 inches below the wheel pants. 'Not good for a soft sand runway,' the pilot said.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 947 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 885 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 1999; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TCS at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 11 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:20 pm from TCS
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.
Other NTSB records under N8117Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.