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20260517009149A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 · Wells, NV · May 17, 2026

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
May 17, 2026 · 10:30 local
Place
Wells, NV
Phase of flight
Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N787PV
NTSB investigation
NTSBWPR26LA196
Reported as
Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40
Reported engine
Lycoming IO-360-M1A+
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
1
Pilot’s certificate
Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
500 total198 in this make and model25 in the last 90 days
N787PVRegistered now · Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40S/N 40.695 · Built 2007Airframe modelDiamond Aircraft Ind DA 40Engine modelLycoming IO-360-M1A+Reciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

A Diamond da 40 aircraft was en route from loveland, co to hayward, CA operating under visual flight rules when the pilot attempted to land in Wells, NV to refuel. Upon attempting to do so, he stated that he was unable to visualize the runway due to snowfall covering the airfield and divered to elko, NV. The pilot stated that he encountered mountain wave turbulance while inbound to the elko, NV airport and was forced to land in the east humbolt mountain range at approximetly 10,200 feet MSL. The pilot stated that he injured his shoulder and was successfully rescued. The aircraft was destroyed as the empennage was fractured and no longer attached to the aircraft. Upon discussing the accident flight with the NTSB, the pilot stated that he had taken the route to avoid entering IMC conditions. The pilot is instrument rated but did not list if he is current, or when his last instrument proficiency check was.

As the FAA filed it

A DIAMOND DA 40 AIRCRAFT WAS EN ROUTE FROM LOVELAND, CO TO HAYWARD, CA OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN WELLS, NV TO REFUEL. UPON ATTEMPTING TO DO SO, HE STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO VISUALIZE THE RUNWAY DUE TO SNOWFALL COVERING THE AIRFIELD AND DIVERED TO ELKO, NV. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED MOUNTAIN WAVE TURBULANCE WHILE INBOUND TO THE ELKO, NV AIRPORT AND WAS FORCED TO LAND IN THE EAST HUMBOLT MOUNTAIN RANGE AT APPROXIMETLY 10,200 FEET MSL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE INJURED HIS SHOULDER AND WAS SUCCESSFULLY RESCUED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AS THE EMPENNAGE WAS FRACTURED AND NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT. UPON DISCUSSING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WITH THE NTSB, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD TAKEN THE ROUTE TO AVOID ENTERING IMC CONDITIONS. THE PILOT IS INSTRUMENT RATED BUT DID NOT LIST IF HE IS CURRENT, OR WHEN HIS LAST INSTRUMENT PROFICIENCY CHECK WAS.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR26LA196Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportWells, NVThe pilot’s inability to maintain climb performance and clearance from mountainous terrain due to a downdraft.May 17, 2026 · Substantial damage