DEN01LA079

Factual narrative

On March 29, 2001, at 1430 mountain standard time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, N88352, sustained substantial damage when it departed the side of the runway into rough terrain during landing roll at Las Vegas, New Mexico. The private pilot and sole occupant was not injured. The flight was being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local area personal flight which originated at 1415. According to the pilot, he was flying in the pattern to warm the engine for an oil change. He said the wind sock indicated a right crosswind and that his landing was normal. During landing roll, according to his account, a wind gust lifted the right wing and he lost directional control and the aircraft exited the left side of the runway where it hit a depression causing the main landing gear to collapse. The left wing then hit the ground and buckled. The landing was made on runway 20 and, at the time, the wind was from 360 degrees at 7 knots. This provided a quartering tail wind of approximately 6 knots during the landing roll. The pilot was conducting his final landing from a local flight, on which he had stayed in the pattern. He landed on runway 20 with a right quartering tail wind of approximately 6 knots. During landing roll, the aircraft departed the left side of the runway into rough terrain. The landing gear was sheared off and the left wing buckled. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12