# NTSB ERA26LA318: Cessna 140, N77061, Homestead, FL, May 30, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 30, 2026, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Homestead, FL - Coordinates: 25.499227, -80.554247 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.4992&lon=-80.5542&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 8, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203692 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA318 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203692/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203692 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA318 ## Probable cause The pilot’s excessive braking during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis A flight instructor was giving instruction to a private pilot toward a tailwheel endorsement. The pilot stated that during the landing, she applied excessive pressure to the brakes and the airplane to nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The airplane came to rest on the runway inverted. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N77061](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N77061), registered now, S/N 11515, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 140 (UNDESIGNATED SERIES) - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11515 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 5329 - Engines: Continental C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 19, 2025 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: X51, Miami Homestead General Aviation, runway 36, 4,001 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 39; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2026; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,500 total, 261 in this make and model, 1,430 as pilot in command, 164 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 19; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 23, 2026; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 133 total, 133 in this make and model, 38 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: AAF, 10 nm away - METAR: METAR KAAF 301353Z AUTO 06006KT 10SM FEW018 28/25 A3008 RMK AO1 SLP186 T02780250= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20260530011709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260530011709A), May 30, 2026: Cessna 140, Homestead, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot monitoring: (instructor) right seat I was teaching a friend, who is a private pilot, how to fly tail draggers. We flew approximately from 7-9 am then… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 8, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203692. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20930692&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20931513&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Instructor-Rel.pdf - Student statement memorandum of record (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20931790&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Student-Rel.pdf - Investigation photograph (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20931452&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigatoion%20Photograph-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.