Pilot Parachutes from Plane Before Crash Near Bloomfield

Officers on scene reported a Cirrus Model SR22 aircraft had landed in an area of farmland after the pilot had reported engine trouble.  The pilot and sole occupant, Robert George Hart III (53) of Pagosa Springs, CO, did not sustain injuries and told officers he had been flying from Albuquerque, NM to Pagosa Springs, CO this morning when the plane's engine malfunctioned.

From NM State Police: Around 10:00 this morning, the New Mexico State Police responded to a report of a downed aircraft approximately five miles east of Bloomfield, NM in an area of farmland.

Officers on scene reported a Cirrus Model SR22 aircraft had landed in an area of farmland after the pilot had reported engine trouble.  The pilot and sole occupant, Robert George Hart III (53) of Pagosa Springs, CO, did not sustain injuries and told officers he had been flying from Albuquerque, NM to Pagosa Springs, CO this morning when the plane's engine malfunctioned.  The plane began to lose altitude and Mr. Hart activated the parachute on the plane and landed safely in an open area.

The aircraft is registered to Coastal King Aviation LLC located in Corpus Christi, TX.

New Mexico State Police, San Juan County Sheriff's Office, and San Juan County Fire and Rescue all responded to the scene.  The State Police will be taking a report on the incident and notified the National Transportation Safety Board for further investigation. There was no property damage caused by the crash. 

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Today's Weather

  • Farmington, NM

    Sunny intervals

    High: 45°F | Low: 27°F

  • Durango, CO

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  • Shiprock, NM

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    High: 45°F | Low: 25°F

  • Cortez, CO

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  • Santa Fe, NM

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