CEN11LA142

The student pilot was performing a landing when the airplane bounced several times before he lost control of the airplane. The airplane veered to the right and departed the runway. As the airplane continued through the grass, the right wing contacted a construction sign and impacted a ditch, coming to rest inverted. An eyewitness reported that the tailwheel never fully contacted the ground prior to departing the runway. No preimpact anomalies were reported by the pilot.

On January 2, 2011, approximately 0900 central standard time, an American Legend Aircraft AL3, N102PJ, impacted an construction sign and nosed over following a runway excursion at the Aero Country Airport (T31), McKinney, Texas. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial crushing damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Shell Air LLC, Olathe, Kansas, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a local training flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight originated from T31 approximately 0855. According to a statement provided by the pilot, upon landing at the airport, the airplane bounced several times before he lost control of the airplane. The airplane veered to the right and departed the runway. After departing the runway the airplane's right wing struck a construction sign. The airplane then impacted a ditch and came to rest inverted. The pilot did not report any anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident landing. A certified flight instructor saw the landing and reported that the airplane's tailwheel did not appear to fully contact the ground prior to the airplane departing the runway.