What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 01/05/2026 around 1521 CDT, the pilot in command conducted the maiden flight of his new experimental, amateur built aircraft. The pilot stated that he had a briefing and his taxi and run-up checks were all normal. Shortly after take-off the pilot experienced a substantial engine power loss after lift-off while still at very low altitude. With the throttle and propeller controls fully forward, the aircraft was unable to maintain level flight. The pilot elected to land straight ahead, on the same runway with the remaining runway available.
After touchdown, the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left main landing gear and left wing, that led to a loss of directional control during the landing roll, culminating in an approximately 180 degree pivot on the runway.
Then the pilot completed the engine shutdown and emergency ground egress.
As the FAA filed it
ON 01/05/2026 AROUND 1521 CDT, THE PILOT IN COMMAND CONDUCTED THE MAIDEN FLIGHT OF HIS NEW EXPERIMENTAL, AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD A BRIEFING AND HIS TAXI AND RUN-UP CHECKS WERE ALL NORMAL. SHORTLY AFTER TAKE-OFF THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A SUBSTANTIAL ENGINE POWER LOSS AFTER LIFT-OFF WHILE STILL AT VERY LOW ALTITUDE. WITH THE THROTTLE AND PROPELLER CONTROLS FULLY FORWARD, THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD, ON THE SAME RUNWAY WITH THE REMAINING RUNWAY AVAILABLE.
AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND LEFT WING, THAT LED TO A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL, CULMINATING IN AN APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREE PIVOT ON THE RUNWAY.
THEN THE PILOT COMPLETED THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN AND EMERGENCY GROUND EGRESS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.