What happened
On January 5, 2026, at approximately 15:45 CST, a Scalewings SW-51 Mustang, registration N351MT, was involved in an accident near Fredericksburg, Texas. The aircraft was being operated by Canard Aero LLC as a Part 91 flight test flight. This flight marked the first flight of the recently completed amateur-built airplane.
Following takeoff rotation, the pilot reported that the engine lost power during the initial climb. In response to the power loss, the pilot attempted to land the aircraft on the remaining runway. During the landing sequence, the left main landing gear was pushed through the top skin of the wing, causing substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot was not injured.