# NTSB ERA20CA158: American Legend AL3, N1115, Athens, GA, April 22, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 22, 2020, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Athens, GA - Coordinates: 33.948612, -83.325836 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9486&lon=-83.3258&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA / FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101203 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA158 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101203/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101203 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA158 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control after an aborted landing, which resulted in collision with trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); 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-aborted after touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane started to veer left and that, because he was concerned that it may ground loop, he decided to abort the landing and applied full engine power. The airplane became airborne, continued to drift left, and impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll the airplane started to veer left, concerned the airplane may ground-loop. He decided to abort the landing and applied full engine power The airplane became airborne, continued to drift left and impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1115](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1115), registered now, S/N AL-1042, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN LEGEND AL3 - Registry model: [American Legend AL3](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-legend-al3) (registry code 060002K) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AL-1042 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 675 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2019 - Departed: AHN, Athens, GA - Destination: AHN, Athens, GA - Airport: AHN, Athens/Ben Epps, runway 09, 6,122 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 15, 2019; seat: front; flight hours: 245.1 total, 35.5 in this make and model, 245.1 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: 120° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: AHN ## 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 20200422004559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200422004559A), Apr 22, 2020: American Legend Aircraft Co AL3, Athens, GA, Destroyed. On Friday April 24, 2020, the inspector arrived to Ben Epps Airport (ahn) at 1000 and was met by airport grounds supervisor. Inspector was escorted to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101203. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484771&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of phone conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484772&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20phone%20conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 302 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484773&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF 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.