# Accident 20260105000229A: Canard Aero LLC SW-51 MUSTANG, Fredericksburg, TX, January 5, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 5, 2026, 15:21 local time
- Place: Fredericksburg, TX
- Airport: Gillespie County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.2432° N, 98.9092° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2432&lon=-98.9092&mi=10
- Aircraft: N351MT, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N351MT) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Canard Aero SW-51 MUSTANG (registry code 05643FZ, https://openairdocs.org/model/canard-aero-sw-51-mustang) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 916 IS A (registry code 55623, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-916-is-a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CANARD AERO LLC SW-51 MUSTANG
- Reported engine: ROTAX 916 IS A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 5,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA079) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260105000229A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN26LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA079), Jan 5, 2026: Canard Aero SW-51 Mustang (N351MT), Fredericksburg, TX, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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