# NTSB WPR26LA201: American AA1, N6440L, Cowley, WY, May 25, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 25, 2026, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Cowley, WY · North Big Horn Cty Airport - Coordinates: 44.912557, -108.44583 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9126&lon=-108.4458&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 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): 203068 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA201 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203068/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203068 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA201 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare and subsequent loss of directional control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American AA-1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0630710), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American AA-1A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=0630710), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [American AA-1A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0630710), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [American AA-1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=0630710), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [American AA-1A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0630710), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [American AA-1A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0630710), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot was conducting touch-and-go landings. He reported that during the landing flare, the airplane ballooned, and he was unable to maintain directional control. The airplane touched down and subsequently exited the runway, impacted a drainage ditch, and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and rudder. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6440L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6440L), registered now, S/N AA1A-0440, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN AVIATION AA1 (A) - Registry model: [American AA-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1a) (registry code 0630710) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA1A-0440 - Year built: 1972 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: U68, Cowley, WY - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: U68, North Big Horn County Airport, runway 09, 5,200 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 85; injuries: minor; student; seat: left; flight hours: 126 total, 94 in this make and model, 2.5 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KPOY, 15 nm away - METAR: METAR KPOY 251355Z AUTO 14007KT 10SM CLR 18/00 A3000 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 20260525009549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260525009549A), May 25, 2026: American Aviation AA-1A, Cowley, WY, Substantial damage. Student pilot lost control on landing, bounced and went off runway and hit irrigation ditch and flipped over. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203068. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 753 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20480907&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA201%20-%206120.1%20-%20Original_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20480816&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA201%20-%20MOR%20Pilot%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20480584&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA201%20-%20Photo%20Array_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. --- 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.