Probable cause
The pilot's hard landing on the airplane's nosewheel, which jammed the steering, and resulted in a runway excursion and impact with runway lights.
NTSB analysis
According to the pilot, he departed in a single-seat homebuilt airplane; however, the airplane did not feel "stable", so he elected to abort the takeoff. During touchdown, the airplane's nose landing gear hit the runway first. After the nose landing gear struck the runway, the rudder was jammed, and the airplane departed the runway surface. The airplane struck a runway light before coming to a stop. Examination of the airplane found that firewall damage had impacted and jammed the nosewheel steering and rudder controls. Damage to the airplane's left-wing leading edge, and substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer, and elevator were also noted.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN20CA251 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jun 25, 2020
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Nearest airport
- Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ANE)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built ONEX
- N-number
- N951X
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2017
- 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.