# NTSB ERA24LA129: American Legend AL11, N729CJ, Fort Myers, FL, March 3, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 3, 2024, 14:05 local (19:05 UTC) - Place: Fort Myers, FL · Airport - Coordinates: 26.588, -81.861165 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5880&lon=-81.8612&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: 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): 193886 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193886/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193886 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA129 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a crosswind. ## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL11, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060002N), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL11, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=060002N), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL11, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=060002N), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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) (defining event); cases with it: [American Legend AL11, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=060002N), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [American Legend AL11, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=060002N), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [American Legend AL11, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060002N), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The piloted reported while practicing takeoffs and landings, on her third approach to land, the air traffic control tower reported an 8-knot crosswind. During touchdown, she reported that the airplane bounced several times and subsequently during the landing roll, the wind shifted, and the airplane pulled to the left. The pilot attempted to maintain directional control, but the airplane continued its path to the left and departed the runway into the grass. Upon exiting the runway, the airplane struck a runway distance remaining sign, which substantially damaged the left wing and collapsed the left main landing gear. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N729CJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N729CJ), registered now, S/N AL-1133, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN LEGEND AIRCRAFT CO AL11 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [American Legend AL11](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-legend-al11) (registry code 060002N) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-series) (registry code 17402, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AL-1133 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 715 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Old School Flying LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2023, 9 hours before - Airport: FMY, Page Fld, runway 05/23, 6,406 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 29; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 110 total, 84 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: FMY - METAR: KFMY 031853Z 19007KT 10SM SCT110 27/19 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP176 T02720189= ## 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 20240303002879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240303002879A), Mar 3, 2024: American Legend Aircraft Co AL11, Fort Myers, FL, Substantial damage. On March 3, 2024 at 1:30 in the afternoon, a student pilot was practicing take offs and landings at kfmy, the home base airfield for the aircraft. Prior to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 21, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193886. 7.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 6.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17131054&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N729CJ%20-%20Form%206120.1%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 665 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17130277&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%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. --- 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.