Amateur-built RV6A accident near Mimbres, New Mexico, June 11, 2023
On June 11, 2023 at about 11:10 pm local time, a 2001 amateur-built RV6A, registered N60605, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Mimbres, New Mexico (Casas Adobes Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inflight loss of control while landing with wind gusts that resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2023 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Mimbres, New Mexico · Casas Adobes Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV6A, built 2001
- Registration
- N60605 · registry record · serial 25379
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to landing, the pilot made a low pass from north to south to check the windsock, which indicated a crosswind from the southwest; it was stable and not flapping and favored runway 16. During the landing flare, the airplane was struck by a gust of wind and the nose rose upward at a steep angle and then slammed back onto the ground. The nose wheel landing gear bent, and as the airplane slid down the runway the bent nose landing gear dug into the ground and the airplane flipped onto its back. The pilot reported that there was no evidence of any preexisting mechanical malfunction with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,834 hours in all; 1,697 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 3,780 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 25, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,697 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 30, 2022; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 1,697 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0E0 Moriarty NM at 9:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,800 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 13 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 31°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.66 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from KSVC, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSVC 112315Z AUTO 21016G26KT 10SM CLR 30/M01 A2999 RMK AO2 T02961007
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on October 20, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Reports from Federal Agencies - Pilot Roc (NTSB) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.