American Aviation AA1 accident near Cowley, Wyoming, May 25, 2026
On May 25, 2026 at about 2:00 pm local time, a 1972 American Aviation AA1, registered N6440L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Cowley, Wyoming (North Big Horn County Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper landing flare and subsequent loss of directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2026 · about 2:00 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Cowley, Wyoming · North Big Horn County Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Aviation AA1 A, built 1972 · all AA1s on the register
- Registration
- N6440L · registry record · serial AA1A-0440
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 126 hours in all; 94 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2.5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 2,925 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U68 Cowley WY at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 5,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 am from KPOY, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPOY 251355Z AUTO 14007KT 10SM CLR 18/00 A3000 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of the airplane inverted from the left side
Photograph 2 – View if the airplane inverted from the right side
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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 17, 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 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 4 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
- N6440L on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- American Aviation AA-1 207 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- American Aviation 207 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 14 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- North Big Horn County · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Wyoming 777 since 1982 · 108 in the last ten years
- Wyoming 3,236 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR26LA201.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.