Aerovodochody L-29 DELFIN accident near Roswell, New Mexico, September 12, 2026
On September 12, 2026 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1968 Aerovodochody L-29 DELFIN, registered N29AD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Roswell, New Mexico (Roswell Air Center airport). It was an air show or air race flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The malfunction of a diode in the airplanes electrical system that resulted in low batter power and subsequent landing gear collapse.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 2026 · about 6:30 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Roswell, New Mexico · Roswell Air Center · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerovodochody L-29 DELFIN, built 1968 · all L-29 DELFINs on the register
- Registration
- N29AD · registry record · serial 792405
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the retractable-landing-gear airplane reported that, following takeoff, the landing gear failed to retract when commanded. Multiple attempts to cycle the landing gear were unsuccessful, leading the pilot to suspect a malfunction within the hydraulic system, possibly involving the hydraulic pump. The pilot elected to leave the landing gear extended and return for landing. Prior to landing, all three landing gear indicated down and locked through both the primary electrical indication system and the secondary mechanical indicators (barber pole indicators located on the wings and nose). In addition, a visual inspection conducted by a pilot in a nearby airplane confirmed that all three landing gear appeared to be in the down-and-locked position. The landing and subsequent rollout were uneventful until the aircraft decelerated to approximately 60 knots and began moving toward the left side of the runway in accordance with racing procedures. At that time, the right main landing gear collapsed, the right wing contacting the runway surface and the airplane subsequently departed the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. Post-accident examination of the airplane’s hydraulic system revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the airplane’s electrical system revealed that the battery was in a low-charge condition. Testing showed that battery voltage decreased from about 19 volts to 11 volts when the electrically driven hydraulic pump was activated. Further inspection identified a failed reverse-current diode that prevented the generator from recharging the battery during operation. The airplane was routinely started using a ground power unit and the battery was not being fully recharged between flights. As a result, insufficient system voltage was available to adequately power the hydraulic pump, which prevented normal landing gear retraction and extension.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › External power system › Malfunction other cases naming the electrical power
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Hydraulic power system › Hydraulic, main system › Related maintenance info other cases naming the heating, ice protection and utility systems
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,500 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 8,300 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 10, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 26, 2026
- Maximum gross weight: 7,828 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney J60 (turbojet); 14,326 hours total
- Operator: Antique Aero Restorations LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 10,008 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 12:00 pm from KROW, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KROW 121751Z 03009G14KT 10SM CLR 38/07 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP075 T03780067 10378 20200 58001
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N29AD on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Aerovodochody L-29 67 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Aerovodochody 67 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney J60 2 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Roswell Air Center Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in New Mexico 1,423 since 1982 · 184 in the last ten years
- New Mexico 3,111 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR26LA343.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.