Boeing A75N1 accident near Mesa, Arizona, March 21, 2026
On March 21, 2026 at about 8:15 pm local time, a 1942 Boeing A75N1, registered N5045V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Mesa, Arizona (Falcon Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout, which resulted in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 2026 · about 8:15 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · Falcon Field · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75N1, built 1942 · all A75N1s on the register
- Registration
- N5045V · registry record · serial 75-5422
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing rollout, the airplane encountered a strong wind gust and subsequently veered to the right. The pilot applied corrective control inputs; however, the airplane ground looped, and the left wing contacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage. Reported wind conditions 21 minutes prior to the accident were variable at 6 kts and wind conditions 39 minutes after the accident were from 280° at 4 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 34,671 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 60.8 in the last 90 days; 51.7 in the last 30 days; 30,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 14, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 270 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 13, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,635 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R-680 (piston); 270 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22L, 5,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from FFZ
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFFZ 212054Z 28004KT 10SM CLR 38/M04 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP076 T03781044 58024=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of bottom lower left wing aileron damage.
Photograph 2 – View of top lower left wing aileron damage. (Courtesy Airport Ops)The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 25, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array (Courtesy of Airport Ops) | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5045V on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Boeing A75 Stearman Kaydet 977 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Boeing 6,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming R-680 219 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Falcon Field · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 466 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,435 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR26LA138.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.