At about 1100 Pacific time, the airplane collided with terrain, causing substantial damage. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries to his back. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot was performing stall maneuvers to determine if the airplanes canard met specifications. He had tufted the canard to observe its aerodynamic characteristics. He entered a stall at 7000 feet msl, about 3200 feet agl. The main wing stalled prior to the canard, and the airplane began an uncontrolled, flat descent at about 200 feet per minute. The airplane collided with the ground in a slight nose-high attitude.
