# NTSB WPR26LA185: Craig Ellison Bearhawk Four, N953CN, Sandpoint, ID, May 13, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: May 12, 2026, 19:40 local (May 13, 2026, 02:40 UTC)
- Place: Sandpoint, ID
- Coordinates: 48.347815, -116.55367
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3478&lon=-116.5537&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202984
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA185
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202984/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA185

## Preliminary report

On May 12, 2026, about 1940 Pacific daylight time (PDT), an experimental amateur-built Bearhawk Four airplane, N953CN, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Olmstead Sky Ranch in Sandpoint, Idaho. The pilot was uninjured, and the passenger sustained a minor injury. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were landing at the conclusion of the second test flight of the tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot reported that after the airplane touched down he noticed the right brake seemed to drag, and the airplane deviated progressively harder to the right. The pilot applied rudder and left brake inputs to compensate. As the airplane slowed, it nosed over and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the rudder, wings, and wing strut. The right brake remained locked after the airplane came to rest, and during the recovery of the airplane from the runway. The airplane was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Craig Ellison BEARHAWK FOUR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05643KJ), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N953CN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N953CN), registered now, S/N 443-87/88, built 2026 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CRAIG ELLISON BEARHAWK FOUR
- Registry model: [Craig Ellison BEARHAWK FOUR](https://openairdocs.org/model/craig-ellison-bearhawk-four) (registry code 05643KJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-C4B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-c4b5) (registry code 41651, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 443-87/88
- Year built: 2026
- Airframe hours: 1
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, April 21, 2026, 1 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: ID25, Olmstead Sky Ranch, runway 16/34, 3,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 60° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observed at: KSZT, 3 nm away
- METAR: METAR KSZT 130235Z AUTO 06007KT 10SM CLR 22/02 A2984 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 20260512005569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260512005569A), May 12, 2026: Craig Ellison BEARHAWK FOUR, Sandpoint, ID, Substantial damage. Right hand main landing gear brake malfunctioned (locked up), resulting in aircraft completely turning over (nose over) on landing roll out, coming to rest on…

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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