# NTSB DCA26LA285: Leigh Aerosystems E100, N1224E, Douglas, AZ, June 26, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 26, 2026, 11:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place: Douglas, AZ
- Coordinates: 31.47034, -109.59313
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4703&lon=-109.5931&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 22, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Parties: Northrop Grumman, Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203410
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA26LA285
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203410/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203410
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26LA285

## Probable cause

Degraded engine and propeller performance during hot and high-density altitude operations, which resulted in a high descent rate and subsequent hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Leigh Aerosystems E100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=06102HA), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)
- [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Leigh Aerosystems E100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=06102HA), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Leigh Aerosystems E100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=06102HA), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

On June 26, 2026, about 1140 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Leigh Aerosystems E100 unmanned aircraft system (UAS) experienced a hard landing at Bisbee Douglas International Airport, Douglas, Arizona. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was operated by a remote pilot as a flight test under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Certificate of Authorization (COA). The aircraft sustained substantial damage and there were no injuries to ground personnel. Figure 1. Leigh Aerosystems E100 UAS. (Source: Northrop Grumman) According to the remote pilot, the intent of the flight was to test the aircraft’s hover capabilities and develop performance data for hot day conditions. The aircraft performed controlled flight up to a planned altitude of about 40 ft above ground level but then began to descend at a rate faster than planned. The aircraft subsequently experienced a hard landing about 10-15 ft from its takeoff location, resulting in the right spar and wing separating from the fuselage. The aircraft was subsequently shut down. Postaccident analysis by the operator of the flight test found that the high-density altitude (about 7,500 ft) at the time of the flight degraded both engine and propeller performance, which limited the maneuverability and controllability of the aircraft.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1224E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1224E), registered now, S/N AV2, built 2024 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LEIGH AEROSYSTEMS CORP E100
- Registry model: [Leigh Aerosystems E100](https://openairdocs.org/model/leigh-aerosystems-e100) (registry code 06102HA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Desert ACF DA-215](https://openairdocs.org/engine/desert-acf-da-215) (registry code 20503, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Powered-lift, unmanned
- Serial number: AV2
- Year built: 2024
- Airframe hours: 3.4
- Engines: DESERT ACF DA-215 20 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Flight test, Part 91
- Operator: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp
- Registered owner: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, June 26, 2026
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: DUG, Bisbee Douglas Intl, runway 17/35, 6,430 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: none; restraint: none

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 11 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observed at: KDUG, 1 nm away
- METAR: METAR KDUG 261856Z AUTO 19011G20KT 10SM FEW090 36/11 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP103 T03560106 TSNO=

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203410. 2.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20808756&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(DCA26LA285)_Redacted-Rel.pdf

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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