Amateur-built RV9A accident near Edgewood, New Mexico, June 4, 2011
On June 4, 2011 at about 2:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RV9A, registered N514R, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Edgewood, New Mexico (Sandia Airpark Estates East 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 failure to abort the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 2011 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Edgewood, New Mexico · Sandia Airpark Estates East · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV9A
- Registration
- N514R · registry record · serial 91464
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff and just after rotation, the airplane settled back onto the runway, at which time the pilot increased nose up trim. The airplane lifted off again, climbed six feet, and settled back onto the runway's displaced threshold. The airplane continued past the displaced threshold and impacted a berm resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or its systems prior to the accident.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1N1 Edgewood NM at 2:45 pm
- Destination: 1N1 Edgewood NM
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 27, 4,830 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from KABQ, 22 miles away
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.