# NTSB DEN89LA057: Bumgartner/Hirt Steen Skybolt, N312BH, Quemado, NM, January 5, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 5, 1989, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Quemado, NM
- Coordinates: 34.310729, -108.790374 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3107&lon=-108.7904&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17660
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17660/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA057

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SELECT A SUITABLE LANDING STRIP/AREA.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: HIGH TERRAIN AND LOW CEILING ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT, HAZE, AND THE SOFT CONDITION OF THE SELECTED LANDING STRIP.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - 
  - precautionary landing
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PLT WAS ON A X-COUNTRY FLIGHT IN HIS HOMEBUILT ACFT. HE REPORTED THAT HE DIVERTED SOUTH OF HIS INTENDED ROUTE TO AVOID WEATHER. HE SAID HE NOTICED THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS ALONG HIS ROUTE WERE HAZY AND OBSCURED, SO HE ELECTED TO LAND NEAR QUEMADO, NEW MEXICO, ON A DIRT STRIP. THE PLT SAID THAT DURING THE LANDING, THE MAIN GEAR ENTERED SOFT DIRT AND HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE ACFT THEN NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE PILOT'S LAST FAA MED EXAM IN ABOUT JULY 1986.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N312BH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BUMGARTNER/HIRT STEEN SKYBOLT (STEEN SKYB)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 231
- Airframe hours: 150
- Engines: CONTINENTAL R-670-5 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hirt, Mark R.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1988, 43 hours before
- Departed: GNT, GRANTS, NM
- Destination: SJN, ST JOHNS, AZ
- Airport: Quemado, runway 23, 5,000 × 25 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: expired; seat: rear; flight hours: 400 total, 105 in this make and model, 380 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 15 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890105000879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890105000879A), Jan 5, 1989: Amtrsn SKYBOLT, Quemado, NM, Substantial damage. Due to weather en route,elected to land at a dirt strip to call for a weather update. Nosed over off edge of strip.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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