# NTSB WPR26LA156: Marshall Daniel R L-21, N453HC, Cody, WY, April 10, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 10, 2026, 08:55 local (14:55 UTC)
- Place: Cody, WY
- Coordinates: 44.44318, -109.2938 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4432&lon=-109.2938&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 July 15, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202807
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA156
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202807/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202807
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA156

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing rollout, 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: [Marshall Daniel R L-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05617SQ), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Marshall Daniel R L-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05617SQ), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/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: [Marshall Daniel R L-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05617SQ), [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: [Marshall Daniel R L-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05617SQ), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he made several passes over his destination airport to assess the landing area and then completed one successful landing. During a second landing the pilot lost control of the airplane, which nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder assembly and both wing struts. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N453HC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N453HC), registered now, S/N 001, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Marshall Daniel R L-21
- Registry model: [Marshall Daniel R L-21](https://openairdocs.org/model/marshall-daniel-r-l-21) (registry code 05617SQ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Year built: 2005
- Airframe hours: 969.8
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 7, 2026
- Departed: COD, Cody, WY
- Destination: COD, Cody, WY
- Airport: Sheep Mountain
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review April 1, 2026; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,844.3 total, 98.5 in this make and model, 1,844.3 as pilot in command, 5.4 in the last 90 days, 3.4 in the last 30 days
- Pilot-rated passenger; age 66; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 13,850 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: COD, 12 nm away
- METAR: METAR KCOD 101456Z AUTO 22008KT 10SM CLR 08/M04 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP191 T00781044 58006 $

## 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 20260410005169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260410005169A), Apr 10, 2026: Piper L-21, Cody, WY, Substantial damage. Pilot landed on mountain top landing spot and lost control when brakes were applied

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202807. 4.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20345126&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA156,%206120.1%20Cody,%20WY_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 565 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20232026&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Witness statements (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 127 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20450262&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA094%20Memorandum%20of%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-rated%20passenger_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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