# Accident 20240303002879A: American Legend Aircraft Co AL11, Fort Myers, FL, March 3, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 3, 2024, 14:05 local time
- Place: Fort Myers, FL
- Airport: Fort Myers-Page Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.5880° N, 81.8612° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5880&lon=-81.8612&mi=10
- Aircraft: N729CJ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N729CJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: American Legend AL11 (registry code 060002N, https://openairdocs.org/model/american-legend-al11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-200 series (registry code 17402, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN LEGEND AIRCRAFT CO AL11
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR O-200
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 109 total, 84 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA129) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240303002879A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON MARCH 3, 2024 AT 1:30 IN THE AFTERNOON, A STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TAKE OFFS AND LANDINGS AT KFMY, THE HOME BASE AIRFIELD FOR THE AIRCRAFT.  PRIOR TO TAXI, THE KFMY ATIS AND FOREFLIGHT REPORTED WINDS OF 220 AT 6 KNOTS. THE PILOT TOOK OFF AND LANDED TWICE ON RUNWAY 23 WITH GREAT LANDINGS, AND PROCEEDED AROUND THE PATTERN FOR A 3RD LANDING. ON THE DOWNWIND LEG, PIC WAS INSTRUCTED TO FOLLOW A CIRRUS VISION JET THAT WAS ON FINAL. AFTER THE JET HAD PASSED, PILOT PROCEEDED TO BASE. ON TURN TO FINAL, THE PILOT STATED SHE FELT A STRONG GUST OF WIND CATCH AND ROCK THE WINGS, BUT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE THE TURN. ON THE APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY, THE TOWER ANNOUNCED WINDS WERE 200 AT 8 KNOTS. THE AIRSPEED (55 MPH) AND ALTITUDE WERE ON POINT FOR THE AMERICAN LEGEND (AL -11) CUB.  THE PLANE  LANDED AND WAS UNDER CONTROL WHEN IT STARTED TO TAKE A TURN TO THE LEFT AS THE WIND SEEMED TO SWIRL AND CHANGE DIRECTIONS. THE STUDENT PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REDIRECT THE PLANE DOWN THE RUNWAY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE PLANE CONTINUED TO GROUND LOOP TOWARD THE GRASS. THE PILOT THEN PROCEEDED TO PULL THE MIXTURE, AND THOUGHT ALL WAS WELL, UNTIL THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE RUNWAY SIGN. WHEN THE PLANE CAME TO A STOP, PIC REMOVED HEADSET AND SHOULDER HARNESS/ SEATBELT AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (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 ERA24LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA129), Mar 3, 2024: American Legend AL11 (N729CJ), Fort Myers, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a crosswind.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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