# NTSB WPR26LA196: Diamond DA40, N787PV, Wells, NV, May 17, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 17, 2026, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Wells, NV · Airplane crash site at about 10,000 ft elev, not recovered
- Coordinates: 40.9286, -115.1204
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9286&lon=-115.1204&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 20, 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): 203024
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA196
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203024/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203024
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA196

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inability to maintain climb performance and clearance from mountainous terrain due to a downdraft.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md)
- [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute-climb to cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, after completing a four hour leg on a cross country flight, he planned to make a fuel stop in Wells, Nevada. Upon arrival he discovered the runway was covered in snow, and elected to continue his flight and obtain fuel at the next airport in Elko, Nevada. The pilot selected a direct route that included crossing a mountain range with ridgeline elevations exceeding 10,000 ft. While approaching the summit of the mountain range, the airplane encountered a down draft headwind that it could not outclimb. The airplane impacted steep, snow covered terrain approximately 500 vertical ft below the mountain summit. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, tail cone, and fuselage; the pilot sustained serious injuries. The pre flight weather briefing, obtained from commercial software used by the pilot prior to the flight, included a forecast for moderate turbulence below 18,000?ft at the location and time of the accident; the briefing’s graphical forecast for the accident time and location also predicted winds aloft from the west, mountain obscuration, and overcast skies with ceilings dropping to near or below the accident site’s elevation. The pilot stated he obtained local weather information by listening to automated airport weather station transmissions while enroute, and that the airplane was not equipped to display in flight weather data. The pilot reported no pre accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N787PV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N787PV), registered now, S/N 40.695, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DIAMOND DA40
- Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da-40) (registry code 2990002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-M1A+](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-m1a-plus) (registry code 41869, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 40.695
- Year built: 2007
- Airframe hours: 4144.3
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-M1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 5, 2025, 51 hours before
- Departed: FNL, Loveland, CO
- Destination: HWD, Hayward, CA
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 17, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 500 total, 198 in this make and model, 425 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Observed at: KEKO, 31 nm away
- METAR: METAR KEKO 171056Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM SCT110 04/M08 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP105 T00391078

## 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 20260517009149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260517009149A), May 17, 2026: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40, Wells, NV, Destroyed. A Diamond da 40 aircraft was en route from loveland, co to hayward, CA operating under visual flight rules when the pilot attempted to land in Wells, NV to…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203024. 31.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20693241&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA196-Pilot-Signed-6120-Flat-wa_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20731459&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA196%20-%20Pilot%20Interview%20-%20ROC_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos and diagram (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20693021&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA196%20Photos%20and%20Diagram-Rel.pdf
- Weather reports and records (item 4, ZIP, 28.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20693718&FileExtension=zip&FileName=WPR26LA196-ForeFlightBriefing-Rel.zip
- Wreckage recovery report (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20701534&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA196%20-%20Recovery%20Information%20-%20ROC_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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