# NTSB WPR26LA014: Maye James A Just Aircraft Escapade, N80JM, Flanigan, NV, October 4, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 4, 2025, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Flanigan, NV · North of Dead Cow Lakebed/High Sierra Fly-In - Coordinates: 40.33992, -119.89927 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3399&lon=-119.8993&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 9, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 201829 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201829/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201829 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA014 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Maye James A ESCAPADE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=056272H), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Maye James A ESCAPADE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=056272H), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation; cases with it: [Maye James A ESCAPADE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=056272H), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maye James A ESCAPADE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056272H), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Maye James A ESCAPADE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=056272H), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/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: [Maye James A ESCAPADE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=056272H), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he departed with another airplane to evaluate potential backcountry landing sites. The pilot of the other airplane landed first on a grass hill and recommended to the accident pilot over the radio that he approach the landing area from another angle as the terrain was rough. The accident pilot visually assessed the terrain and selected what appeared to be a smoother and more suitable landing area. However, the terrain was upsloping and steeper than it appeared from the air. During touchdown, the airplane landed hard, the main landing gear collapsed and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80JM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N80JM), registered now, S/N JAESC 0025, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAYE JAMES A JUST AIRCRAFT ESCAPADE - Registry model: [Maye James A ESCAPADE](https://openairdocs.org/model/maye-james-a-escapade) (registry code 056272H) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912S series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912s-series) (registry code 55570, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JAESC 0025 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 278.6 - Engines: ROTAX 912S 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 2, 2025, 50.81 hours before - Departed: Flanigan, NV - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 6, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,439 total, 177 in this make and model, 1,386 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 3.7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20251004016709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251004016709A), Oct 4, 2025: Maye James A ESCAPADE, Flanigan, NV, Substantial damage. The pilot of N80JM attempted to land his airplane in a backcountry landing area. The pilot stated he selected an area he thought would be smooth, but the area… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201829. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19441738&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Signed_Form_6120_1%20N80JM_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19669432&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA104-Photos-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.