What happened
On June 7, 2025, at approximately 12:52 PDT, a Yakovlev YAK-50, registration N150YK, was involved in an accident near Hayward, California. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use. This flight was noted by the pilot as the first flight following the completion of an annual inspection.
After topping off the fuel tanks with approximately 41 gallons of fuel and completing all preflight and engine runup checks, the pilot received clearance for takeoff. During the initial climb, the pilot raised the landing gear and observed the propeller indicating 100% power. The aircraft accelerated normally for approximately 5 to 6 seconds.
At an altitude of about 100 feet and an airspeed of 100 knots, the engine began running rough. Although the pilot made no changes to the throttle or propeller, engine power degraded to approximately 80%. The pilot declared an emergency, and the tower controller authorized a landing on any available runway.
The pilot attempted a 180-degree turn to land on the opposite runway. While approximately 90 degrees through the turn and 30 feet above the ground, the pilot lowered the landing gear, at which point the engine suffered total power loss. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot leveled the wings and performed a forced landing in a grass field. During the landing roll, one of the main landing gear legs separated, and the aircraft impacted the terrain, causing substantial damage to both wings. The pilot sustained 1 minor injury and there were 0 fatalities.