Incident Overview
A pilot reported that he was very tired and fell asleep while descending to 7,500 feet MSL in the vicinity of Grants, New Mexico. According to the pilot, the next thing he remembered was the aircraft contacting the ground, bouncing, and then coming to a stop.
Accident Site Examination
An examination of the accident site revealed that from the point of initial ground contact, the aircraft traveled approximately 462 feet before the right landing gear sheared off. The gear separated when it contacted a gopher hole. After the gear separated, the aircraft traveled an additional 138 feet before coming to rest.
Aircraft and Environmental Conditions
The flaps were found in the 10-degree down position. The elevation of the crash site was approximately 6,720 feet. There was no damage to the propeller or nose gear.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that he was very tired and fell asleep during the descent, and did not recall the events leading up to the ground contact.