Event DEN01LA097

Factual narrative

On May 12, 2001, at 1030 mountain daylight time, a 1977 Colfer-Chan Steen Skybolt airplane, N111HC, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during landing roll when it departed the side of the runway into a ditch at Gallup Municipal Airport, Gallup, New Mexico. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local personal flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Gallup at 0800. According to the pilot, he experienced a "dust devil" during the landing roll on runway 06 which pulled the aircraft off the runway into sandy terrain and encountered a ditch. The left wings of the biplane were folded aft. The recorded wind at the airport at 1053 was from 140 degrees at 9 knots with gusts to 17 knots, which resulted in an 80 degree right crosswind of 8 knots with gusts to 15 knots for the landing on runway 06. The pilot had 10 hours experience in the accident aircraft make and model, all of which was accomplished in the 90 day period preceding the accident. 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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12