Amateur-built QUICKIE Q2 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 6, 2011
On May 6, 2011, a amateur-built QUICKIE Q2, registered N314JF, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Albuquerque International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of elevator control, due to control stick's counter-weight binding with the airplane's header tank.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 2011
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Albuquerque International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built QUICKIE Q2
- Registration
- N314JF · registry record · serial 2704
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was becoming familiar with the experimental airplane he had just purchased by practicing taxi tests. He decided to take the airplane on a flight and during the initial takeoff, he experienced some binding on the control stick, but dismissed it as just requiring some lubrication. He flew for about an hour and decided to practice a few approaches. On the third approach, he realized that he was unable to move the control stick forward, but he was able to control the airplane's altitude by engine power and trim. He elected to divert to another airport and performed an emergency landing. During the landing the airplane bounced twice, the propeller struck the ground and the airplane's left canard/landing gear separated. The pilot reported that the pivot bolt holding the counterweight was tight and the counterweight had a little movement which allowed the weight to bind with the airplane's header tank.
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 maneuvering defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 82 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 18 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 19, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 840 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 1, 2011
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EJ22 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E80 Belen NM at 11:00 pm
- Destination: Belen NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from KABQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.