Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed to avoid an aerodynamic stall during takeoff.
NTSB analysis
The airplane was taking off from a 4,294-foot-long runway for an initial takeoff. The sport pilot reported to the responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector that the airplane stopped climbing and then nosed over and fell back to the runway. The airplane touched down in a nose-low attitude near the mid-field of the runway, breaking off the nose gear. The airplane rolled off the right side of the runway before nosing over and coming to rest in the inverted position. The airport was located at 4,292 feet mean sea level, with an estimated density altitude of 7,400 feet at the time of the accident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN09CA587 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 22, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Santa Rosa, New Mexico
- Nearest airport
- Santa Rosa Route 66 Airport (KSXU)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built RANS S-6
- N-number
- N410BT
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.