So........I'd been flying for about 10 minutes and my Alpha 60 deadsticks on me. I was high, near the approach end of the runway. I've done many deadsticks on the sim and everytime I've flown I've pulled power once or twice at random locations and played it like a deadstick. So, no big deal. I do a couple of circles and back and forths across the runway to bleed altitude and then land it. I didn't get quite enough altitude off, so it landed long, but soft, then went off the end of the runway at not much more than walking speed. I walk down to get the plane, cross the runway to get to it, and it's just fine. Pick it up turn around, start back to the pits, step in a depression right at the edge of the runway, turn my ankle and promptly fall on the plane.

The back half of the fuselage and the tail section are pretty well trashed. And to add to the embarrassment, we happen to have the biggest group of flyers at the field since I joined the club, all of whom watched me go down in a heap on top of the plane.

I think I'd have rather crashed it. []

I'm going to attempt to repair the damage, but have ordered a fuse and tail from Hobby Zone (Horizon is back ordered on the ARF and most of the replacement parts.) Turned out one of the muffler bolts vibrated loose and I lost back pressure which caused the deadstick.

I came close to just ordering a PulseXT 60 instead, but don't really feel like I've had enough flights on the Alpha to do so. Besides, I'd like to keep the trainer flying even after I add a second plane. I should be back up and flying sometime next week.