# NTSB WPR24LA128: Bearhawk 4-Place, N1685, Buckhorn, NM, April 20, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 20, 2024, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Buckhorn, NM · Sacaton Airport , NM - Coordinates: 33.1825, -108.68309 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1825&lon=-108.6831&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 194131 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194131/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194131 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA128 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inflight loss of control during landing following an encounter with a wind gust which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bice David E BEARHAWK, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05623OC), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Bice David E BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05623OC), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Bice David E BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05623OC), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Bice David E BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05623OC), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Bice David E BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05623OC), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he conducted a low pass over the runway to check runway and wind conditions and noted that the wind was light and variable. On the second approach to landing, while about 10 ft above the runway, a “sudden, strong wind gust hit” and airplanes nose came up abruptly. The pilot attempted to go around; however, the airplane landed hard, and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions that precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1685](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1685), registered now, S/N 030-53/54-704, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEARHAWK 4-Place (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Bice David E BEARHAWK](https://openairdocs.org/model/bice-david-e-bearhawk) (registry code 05623OC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 030-53/54-704 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 537 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 EXP 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal - Departed: 1N1, Edgewood, NM - Destination: NM16, Buchorn, NM - Airport: NM16, Sacaton Airport, runway 08, 4,000 × 40 ft, dirt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 30, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,749 total, 320 in this make and model, 1,749 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 65 °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 20240420004699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240420004699A), Apr 20, 2024: Bice David E BEARHAWK, Buckhorn, NM, Substantial damage. On April 20, 2024, at 1300 MDT, an experimental bear hawk, contacted runway 08 during its approach to landing at Sacaton Airport (NM16). The private pilot, the… ## Other investigations on N1685 (2) 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. - [NTSB GAA18CA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA206), Apr 10, 2018: Bice David E Bearhawk (N1685), Edgewood, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. - [NTSB DEN08CA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08CA164), Sep 27, 2008: Bice David E Bearhawk (N1685), Double Eagle Airport, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot flared high and failed to maintain directional control. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's unfamiliarity with the airplane and the crosswind. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 24, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194131. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17223709&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Email clarification of pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 164 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17412266&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Re_%20Bearhawk%20Accident%20Clarification_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17222725&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA128%20Photos-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.