# NTSB ERA21LA375: American Legend AL3, N948FS, Andover Township, NJ, September 14, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 14, 2021, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Andover Township, NJ · Airport runway
- Coordinates: 41.00862, -74.738034 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0086&lon=-74.7380&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103941
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA375
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103941/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103941
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA375

## Probable cause

The student pilot's excessive asymmetrical application of the brakes, which resulted in a nose over.

## Findings

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

- [Landing gear system: landing gear brakes system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); 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)
- [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)

## Analysis

The student pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on a soft turf runway that had experienced heavy rainfall the evening before. Upon touchdown, about a third of the way down the runway, the airplane bounced slightly before settling onto the turf; the pilot applied the brakes during the landing roll, the airplane turned left, then immediately nosed over and came to rest inverted. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the wing struts and vertical stabilizer. The pilot stated that the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N948FS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N948FS), registered now, S/N AL-1053 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN LEGEND AIRCRAFT CO AL3
- Registry model: [American Legend AL3](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-legend-al3) (registry code 060002K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AL-1053
- Year built: 2006
- Airframe hours: 562
- Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2021
- Departed: 3N6, Old Bridge, NJ
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 12N, Aeroflex-Andover, runway 03/21, 1,981 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; student; medical: sport pilot; last flight review September 14, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 187 total, 15 in this make and model, 40 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: 12N
- METAR: METAR K12N 141854Z AUTO VRB03KT 27/21 A3004 RMK AO1 SLP166 T02670206=

## 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 20210914017479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210914017479A), Sep 14, 2021: American Legend Aircraft Co AL3, Andover, NJ, Substantial damage. The student pilot was performing a solo cross country from old bridge to Andover. While approaching the airport he stated that the winds were reported as…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 5, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103941. 1.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 499 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12862467&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=PIlot%27s%206120%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation_pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 173 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12868457&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Pilot-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation_FAA (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12841965&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_%20FAA-Rel.pdf
- Memo for record_FAA and pilot email statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12841884&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_FAA%20and%20Pilot%20Email%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array_airplane damage (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 850 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12843069&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-Rel.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.

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