# NTSB CEN26LA079: Canard Aero SW-51 Mustang, N351MT, Fredericksburg, TX, January 5, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: January 5, 2026, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Fredericksburg, TX
- Coordinates: 30.243243, -98.909187
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2432&lon=-98.9092&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA - SAT FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202253
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA079
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202253/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA079

## Preliminary report

On January 5, 2026, about 1545 central standard time, a Canard Aero LLC (Scalewings) SW-51 Mustang, N351MT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fredericksburg, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 flight test flight. The pilot reported that the accident flight was the first flight of the recently completed amateur-built airplane. He said that during initial climb after takeoff rotation the airplane’s engine lost power and he attempted to land the airplane on the remaining runway. During the landing the airplane’s left main landing gear was pushed through the top skin of the wing resulting in substantial damage. The airplane was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Canard Aero SW-51 MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05643FZ), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N351MT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N351MT), registered now, S/N SW-51-044, built 2025 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CANARD AERO LLC SW-51 MUSTANG
- Registry model: [Canard Aero SW-51 MUSTANG](https://openairdocs.org/model/canard-aero-sw-51-mustang) (registry code 05643FZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 916 IS A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-916-is-a) (registry code 55623, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: SW-51-044
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Flight test, Part 91
- Operator: Canard Aero LLC
- Registered owner: Canard Aero LLC
- Airport: T82, Gillespie County

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: KT82
- METAR: METAR KT82 052135Z AUTO 19010KT 10SM CLR 22/14 A2992 RMK AO2

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20260105000229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260105000229A), Jan 5, 2026: Canard Aero LLC SW-51 MUSTANG, Fredericksburg, TX, Substantial damage. 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…

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.

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