DEN05LA065

The pilot was simulating a soft-field takeoff. As the airplane lifted off the runway, the pilot released back pressure and the airplane pitched up and rolled to the left. The pilot aborted the takeoff and the airplane landed hard on the left side of the runway, on a heading approximately 15 degrees left of the runway centerline. The wing tip contacted the ground during landing, bending the left rib and aileron as a result.

On March 30, 2005, at 0724 mountain standard time, a Beech A36, N1830V, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck the runway during an aborted takeoff at Four Corners Regional Airport (FMN), Farmington, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, he was simulating a soft-field takeoff on runway 25. He deployed the flaps to 12 degrees and applied full power. Approximately 10 feet above the runway, the pilot began to release back pressure and "felt stabilized for a second but the aircraft felt slow." At that time, the airplane pitched up and rolled to the left, and the pilot decided to abort the takeoff. The airplane struck the far left side of the runway on a heading approximately 15 degrees left of runway centerline. Concerned about side load damage to the landing gear, the pilot taxied back to the maintenance hangar. An examination by an FAA inspector revealed that the left wing tip had contacted the ground during landing, bending a rib and aileron.

The FMN aviation routine weather report (METAR) taken at 0653 mst reported winds as variable at 6 knots. The FMN METAR taken at at 0753 mst reported winds from 250 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 27 knots.