# NTSB WPR26LA252: Fairchild M-62A, N53953, Greenleaf, ID, July 5, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 5, 2026, 07:25 local (13:25 UTC) - Place: Greenleaf, ID - Coordinates: 43.68169, -116.82647 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6817&lon=-116.8265&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 8, 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): 203358 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA252 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203358/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203358 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA252 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed during approach and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Fairchild M-62A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=3371604), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Fairchild M-62A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=3371604), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Fairchild M-62A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3371604), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Fairchild M-62A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=3371604), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during approach to the airport, he noted that the airplane felt “heavy and sluggish.” The pilot realized the airplane was nearing its stall speed and low on its glidepath, and he attempted to correct by adding engine power and raising the nose; however, the airplane subsequently stalled and impacted terrain short of the runway. As a result, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the pilot received serious injuries. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N53953](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53953), registered now, S/N T41-1342, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD M-62A - Registry model: [Fairchild M-62A](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-m-62a) (registry code 3371604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Fairchild 6-440 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/fairchild-6-440-series) (registry code 26003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T41-1342 - Year built: 1942 - Engines: Ranger L440-1 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2025, 20 hours before - Departed: ID90, Greenleaf, ID - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: ID90, Greenleaf Air Ranch, runway 32, 2,392 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: serious; private, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 5, 2026; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,353 total, 102 in this make and model, 6,221 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 310° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KMAN, 14 nm away - METAR: METAR KMAN 051335Z AUTO 31006KT 10SM CLR 21/03 A2998 RMK A01 ## 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 20260705009419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260705009419A), Jul 5, 2026: Fairchild M-62A, Greenleaf, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot was attempting to make a landing on runway 32, the pilot stalled the airplane and crashed 100 feet short of the runway threshold. Reviewed video of the… ## Other investigations on N53953 (1) 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 ERA12CA492](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA492), Jul 25, 2012: Fairchild M-62A (N53953), Albion, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while taking off in gusting wind conditions. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 8, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203358. 7.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 6.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20805918&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1.%206120%20Flattened_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20778672&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6.%20Investigation%20Photographs-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.