What happened
The pilot reported that he was extremely fatigued and lost consciousness while descending to an altitude of 7500 feet mean sea level in the vicinity of Grants, New Mexico. Upon regaining awareness, he recalled the aircraft striking the ground, bouncing, and eventually coming to a halt. The crash site elevation was approximately 6720 feet. Following initial impact, the aircraft traveled roughly 462 feet before the right landing gear sheared off after hitting a gopher hole. After the gear separation, the aircraft continued for an additional 138 feet.
The investigation
A physical examination of the accident site revealed specific details regarding the post-impact sequence. The right landing gear separated upon contacting a gopher hole in the terrain. Inspections indicated that there was no damage to the propeller or the nose gear. The flaps were discovered in the 10-degree down position at the time of recovery.
Findings
Contributing factors included the pilot's fatigue and subsequent loss of consciousness during the descent phase. The mechanical outcome involved the right landing gear shearing off due to terrain interaction with a gopher hole, leading to the extended ground roll.