# NTSB WPR26LA168: Cessna 150H, N6762S, Española, NM, April 21, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 21, 2026, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Española, NM · E14
- Coordinates: 36.026119, -106.04541
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0261&lon=-106.0454&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 17, 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): 202901
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA168
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202901/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202901
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA168

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of of directional control during landing roll following an encounter with a dust devil.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Wind: dust devil/whirlwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md)
- [Wind: dust devil/whirlwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2071818), [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 roll, he observed a dust element to the right of the runway. He then felt a violent lifting of the right wing and the airplane weathervaned into the wind. He applied full power, corrected with rudder, aileron and initiated a go-around, however, the right wing continued to lift, and the left wing impacted the ground. Subsequently, the airplane ground looped to the right resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 16 with wind from 210° at 7 knots. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6762S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6762S), registered now, S/N 15067562, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150H
- Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15067562
- Year built: 1967
- Airframe hours: 7881
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Apache Turf LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 24, 2025, 34 hours before
- Departed: LAM, Los Alamos, TX
- Airport: E14, Ohkay Owingeh, runway 16, 5,007 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; last flight review June 23, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 707 total, 25 in this make and model, 685 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Turbulence: Light
- Observed at: KLAM, 14 nm away
- METAR: METAR KLAM 211035Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 11/M03 A3020 RMK AO2 T01131029 $

## 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 20260421005149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260421005149A), Apr 21, 2026: Cessna 150H, Espanola, NM, Substantial damage. On 04/21/2026 around 16:30 a Cessna 150 converted to tail wheel landing gear configuration was involved in a landing accident at Ohkay Owingeh (E14) airport…

## Other investigations on N6762S (2)

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.

- [NTSB FTW72DPJ07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW72DPJ07), Jul 31, 1971: Cessna 150H (N6762S), Okene, OK, substantial damage
- [NTSB MKC71DCG45](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC71DCG45), Feb 27, 1971: Cessna 150H (N6762S), Shell City, MO, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202901. 3.0 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=20305114&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FLAT%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20386546&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20pic%20array%20WPR26LA168-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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