Canard Aero LLC SW-51 MUSTANG accident near Fredericksburg, Texas, January 5, 2026
On January 5, 2026 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Canard Aero LLC SW-51 MUSTANG, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N351MT, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Fredericksburg, Texas (Gillespie County airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 5, 2026 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fredericksburg, Texas · Gillespie County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Canard Aero LLC SW-51 MUSTANG, amateur-built
- Registration
- N351MT · registry record · serial SW-51-044
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Operator: Canard Aero LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from KT82
Weather report (METAR): METAR KT82 052135Z AUTO 19010KT 10SM CLR 22/14 A2992 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.