Byrk N787SB

John Berman XL/RG

This airplane crashed outside of Sante Fe, NM on January 15, 2018 with injuries (developing) {News}. Here is an updated news article, but this airplane is probably a total loss. It might be repairable, but it's not clear that it would be easier than starting with a kit.

At about 9,000 feet, the pilot of the single-engine airplane knew he was in trouble.

Ice gripped the frame of the aircraft on the evening of Jan. 15 as it flew in dark, overcast skies. Low visibility meant John Laurence Berman could no longer rely on his own eyes to steer the plane. Buffeted by strong winds, he sought help from an air-traffic controller to guide him to the Santa Fe Regional Airport using flight instruments.

The controller told Berman to climb to 10,000 feet. Berman, 60, replied he was unable to maintain altitude and declared an emergency. The final radar return logged the aircraft 300 feet above ground level; Berman’s plane crashed about 8.5 miles south of his destination, in a rugged open space area between Eldorado and N.M. 14.

Those are some of the details contained in reports released by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and the National Transportation Safety Board of Berman’s harrowing flight from the Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport in Liberal, Kansas.

Older: This plane currently (7/3/2008) selling this plane on Trade-a-plane, and again in June of 2014.

Airworthiness Date: 06/23/2004
Builder:                     Stephen Byrk
Serial#:                     3RX097

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