# NTSB CEN09CA261: American Legend AL-3C, N273MS, McKinney, TX, April 20, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 20, 2009, 17:42 local (22:42 UTC)
- Place: McKinney, TX
- Coordinates: 33.173332, -96.587501 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1733&lon=-96.5875&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73705
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA261
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73705/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA261

## Probable cause

THe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing. Contributing to the accident were gusty crosswinds.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Action: unnecessary action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During the landing rollout in gusty wind conditions, the commercial pilot applied too much pressure on the heel brake of his tailwheel-equipped single-engine airplane, which caused the tail to rise. The wind then carried the airplane over on to its back, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing strut and vertical stabilizer.

## Factual narrative

During the landing rollout in gusty crosswind conditions, the commercial pilot was attempting to keep his single-engine, tailwheel-equipped airplane on the centerline of the runway with rudder input and aileron control when he inadvertantly applied too much pressure on the heel brake. This caused the tail of the airplane to rise. The tail hung breifly in the air before the wind carried the airplane over on to its back, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing strut and vertical stabilizer.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N273MS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N273MS), registered now, S/N AL-1051 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: American Legend AL-3C
- Registry model: [American Legend AL3](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-legend-al3) (registry code 060002K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AL-1051
- Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: McRight-Smith Aviation, LP
- Registered owner: McRight-Smith Aviation, LP
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: TKI, McKinney, TX
- Destination: TKI, McKinney, TX
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: TKI, Collin COunty Regional Airport, runway 17

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 2,919 total, 88 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20090420004459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090420004459A), Apr 20, 2009: Amcnlg AL3, Mc Kinney, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft N273MS landed at Collin county regional airport after performing "touch and goes" when the aircraft tail section rose up and the aircraft nosed…

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.