Alon A2 accident near Alamosa, Colorado, July 27, 2016
On July 27, 2016 at about 1:15 pm local time, a 1966 Alon A2, registered N5690F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alamosa, Colorado (Las Arenas Earth And Sky Obser airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff on an uneven runway surface, which resulted in it becoming airborne prematurely, an aerodynamic stall, and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 2016 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Alamosa, Colorado · Las Arenas Earth And Sky Obser · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Alon A2 UNDESIGNAT, built 1966 · all A2s on the register
- Registration
- N5690F · no longer on the register · serial A-190
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll from a private, dirt airstrip the airplane encountered a bump and became airborne prematurely. The pilot further reported that he attempted to reduce the angle of attack, but the left wing aerodynamically stalled and the airplane impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, left wing, right wing and aileron, and right vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- 300090 during nose over
- 300900 during nose over
- 300060 during nose over
- 300241 during nose over
- 300470 during nose over
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › (general) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none, none
- Flight time: 1,231 hours in all; 1,175 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1,145 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 20, 2016
- Medical certificate: class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,337.5 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, May 13, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90 (piston); 2,327 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: 2CO2 Alamosa CO at 1:15 pm
- Destination: ALS Alamosa CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,700 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°C, dew point 45°C
- Altimeter: 30.389999 inHg
- Observation at 12:52 pm from KALS, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number GAA16CA394.