N269DP

On September 8, 2000, at 1652 mountain daylight time, a Cessna A185F, N269DP, was substantially damaged during a loss of control on landing roll at Sierra Blanca Regional Airport, Ruidoso, New Mexico. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The pilot was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country personal flight that originated from La Grange, Texas, 3 hours, 37 minutes before the accident. The pilot had not filed a flight plan.

The pilot said that he was landing on runway 06. He told the investigating New Mexico State Police officer that during the landing "everything felt good and I don't know what happened."

Witnesses stated that the airplane exited the right side of the runway, and struck a runway light. The left wheel separated and the airplane nosed over. The vertical stabilizer was bent, the right strut was bent, and the left wing was wrinkled. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector found two 100 foot long black skid marks on the runway.

The recorded winds, at 1652, were 150 degrees at 11 knots; the recorded winds at 1645 were 170 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 18 knots. The pilot reported (on his NTSB form 6120.1/2) that the winds were calm.