- Date
- August 15, 2009, 12:04 local (16:04 UTC)
- Place
- Warrenton, VA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3737GAmerican Legend AL3C
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- Case key
- 74524
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper application of brakes during the landing rollout.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot of the tailwheel airplane, during the landing rollout, he applied "too much braking pressure" in an attempt to exit the runway at the closest taxiway. The pilot also stated that he felt the tail of the airplane "rise up," but did not release the brakes soon enough to keep the airplane from nosing over. When the airplane was subsequently examined, substantial damage was noted to the rudder and right wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies. Winds at the accident airport about the time of the accident were reported as calm. In the block listed under the section entitled “Recommendations” in the NTSB’s 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report form, the pilot stated the following in writing: “Not reacting soon enough when the [aircraft] became unstable (tail light) was the primary cause of the accident, and poor judgment, or just allowing the landing roll to play out would have avoided the accident.”
Factual narrative
According to the pilot of the tailwheel airplane, during the landing rollout, he applied "too much braking pressure" in an attempt to exit the runway at the closest taxiway. The pilot also stated that he felt the tail of the airplane "rise up," but did not release the brakes soon enough to keep the airplane from nosing over. When the airplane was subsequently examined, substantial damage was noted to the rudder and right wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies. Winds at the accident airport about the time of the accident were reported as calm. In the block listed under the section entitled “Recommendations” in the NTSB’s 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report form, the pilot stated the following in writing: “Not reacting soon enough when the [aircraft] became unstable (tail light) was the primary cause of the accident, and poor judgment, or just allowing the landing roll to play out would have avoided the accident.”
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3737G
- Reported as
- American Legend AL3C (100)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AL1018
- Airframe hours
- 61
- Engine
- Continental O200-A66B, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Lowell and Louise K. Livinghouse
- Registered owner
- Lowell and Louise K. Livinghouse
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 22, 2009
- Departed
- HWY · Warrenton, VA
- Destination
- HWY · Warrenton, VA
- Airport
- HWY · Warrenton-Fauquier Airport, runway 15, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 64
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 1, 2009
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 128 total · 15 in this make and model · 96 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,600 ft broken
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.20 inHg
- Observed at
- HWY
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 512 KB in all.