Amateur-built AA-5B accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico, January 5, 2010
On January 5, 2010 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-5B, registered N28446, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Santa Fe, New Mexico (Santa Fe Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The restricted elevator control movement for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 5, 2010 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Fe, New Mexico · Santa Fe Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-5B
- Registration
- N28446 · registry record · serial AA5B0614
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot taxied out for the first flight since completion of the airplane’s annual inspection. Before taking the active runway the pilot performed an engine run-up and checked the airplane’s flight controls for freedom of movement. No anomalies were noted. While on the takeoff roll the pilot attempted to pull the control yoke to facilitate rotation; however, the yoke would not move aft. As the accelerating airplane began to lift off the ground the pilot elected to reduce the throttle to idle, but was unable to lift the airplane’s nose for landing. The airplane impacted the runway, the nose landing gear separated, and the airplane went airborne for the second time. The airplane again impacted the runway before coming to rest in an upright and nose-low position. The pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector responded to the accident site and examined the airplane. The inspector reported that he was unable to find the reason for the restricted elevator control movement.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Flight control sys malf/fail during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Malfunction
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 5,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 6, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,812 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 28, 2009; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAF Santa Fe NM at 8:30 pm
- Destination: SAF Santa Fe NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 8,342 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.