# NTSB WPR26LA077: Cessna 150A, N7235X, Coolidge, AZ, January 5, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 4, 2026, 17:55 local (Jan 5, 2026, 00:55 UTC) - Place: Coolidge, AZ - Coordinates: 32.936024, -111.42647 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9360&lon=-111.4265&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 19, 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): 202256 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202256/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202256 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA077 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from transmission wires. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s partially obscured vision due to sun glare. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 150A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=2071804), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2071804), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=2071804), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402); cases with it: [Cessna 150A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=2071804), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071804), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while attempting to land into the setting sun he had difficulty seeing the runway and the area ahead due to reduced visibility. As he approached the runway, he became aware that his altitude was lower than it should have been. He simultaneously noticed an orange ball that marked the presence of transmission lines. The pilot attempted to recover by applying power to climb and avoid the wires. Despite this corrective action, the aircraft struck one of the transmission lines. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over, struck the ground and cartwheeled into a ditch which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage and wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7235X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7235X), registered now, S/N 15059335, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150A - Registry model: [Cessna 150A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150a) (registry code 2071804) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15059335 - Year built: 1961 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2025 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: P08, Coolidge Municipal Airport, runway 23, 5,564 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, waiver time limited special; last flight review January 30, 2025; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 7,830 total, 65 in this make and model, 7,082 as pilot in command, 565 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: P08 - METAR: METAR KP08 050030Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 20/09 A2998 RMK AO2 ## 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 20260104000109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260104000109A), Jan 4, 2026: Cessna 150A, Coolidge, AZ, Destroyed. On January 4, 2026, at approximately 1808 mountain standard time, Cessna 150, [privacy data omitted], was substantially damaged after striking power lines… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202256. 18.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 17.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19803820&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA077%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 856 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19804667&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs-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.