# NTSB WPR26LA138: Boeing A75N1, N5045V, Mesa, AZ, March 21, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 21, 2026, 13:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Mesa, AZ - Coordinates: 33.460841, -111.72832 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4608&lon=-111.7283&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 June 25, 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): 202691 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA138 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202691/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202691 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA138 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout, which resulted in a ground loop. ## 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: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing rollout, the airplane encountered a strong wind gust and subsequently veered to the right. The pilot applied corrective control inputs; however, the airplane ground looped, and the left wing contacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage. Reported wind conditions 21 minutes prior to the accident were variable at 6 kts and wind conditions 39 minutes after the accident were from 280° at 4 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5045V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5045V), registered now, S/N 75-5422, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING A75N1 - Registry model: [Boeing A75N1(PT17)](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (registry code 1380134) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-5422 - Year built: 1942 - Airframe hours: 270 - Engines: Lycoming R-680 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 13, 2025 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FFZ, Falcon Field, runway 22L, 5,100 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 14, 2025; seat: rear; flight hours: 34,671 total, 57 in this make and model, 30,000 as pilot in command, 60.8 in the last 90 days, 51.7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 100 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.83 inHg - Observed at: FFZ - METAR: METAR KFFZ 212054Z 28004KT 10SM CLR 38/M04 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP076 T03781044 58024= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20260321001959I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260321001959I), Mar 21, 2026: Boeing A75N1(PT17), Mesa, AZ, Minor damage. During rollout from an uneventful normal landing the aircraft darted right due to wind gust, possible dust devil, and ground looped. Left gear departed the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202691. 6.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 6.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20182128&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA138%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (courtesy of airport ops) (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 688 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20231131&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.