# NTSB ERA25LA374: Flying Cloud AL18, N859SS, Ridgeland, SC, June 7, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 7, 2025, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Ridgeland, SC - Coordinates: 32.493919, -80.991604 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4939&lon=-80.9916&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2025 - 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): 201770 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA374 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201770/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201770 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA374 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. ## 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: [Flying Cloud AL18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05641E1), [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: [Flying Cloud AL18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05641E1), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: [Flying Cloud AL18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05641E1), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the decent, the pilot-rated passenger stated that the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane asked him if he wanted to attempt a landing. He accepted with the condition that the pilot remain on the flight controls with him. During touchdown, the airplane bounced, and the pilot took control of the airplane from the pilot-rated passenger. The airplane bounced again and then ground loop. The airplane’s right wing and right horizontal stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N859SS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N859SS), registered now, S/N AL-366, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FLYING CLOUD AVIATION LLC AL18 - Registry model: [Flying Cloud AL18](https://openairdocs.org/model/flying-cloud-al18) (registry code 05641E1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming YIO-390 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-yio-390-series) (registry code 42418, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: AL-366 - Year built: 2022 - Airframe hours: 112 - Engines: Lycoming Engines IO-390 Series 215 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Preferred Landing LLC - Registered owner: Preferred Landing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 12, 2024 - Departed: Foreman, SC - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 3J1, Ridgeland-Claude Dean, runway 18, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 21, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 678 total, 35 in this make and model, 484 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days - Pilot-rated passenger; age 28; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 1; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,800 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: 3J1 - METAR: METAR K3J1 071835Z AUTO 24007KT 10SM SCT047 SCT060 33/24 A2988 RMK AO2 ## 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 20250607015549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250607015549A), Jun 7, 2025: Flying Cloud Aviation LLC AL18, Ridgeland, SC, Substantial damage. Departed private grass strip near foreman SC. Destination was Ridgeland (3J1). Everything went as normal during flight and on the final approach. However, upon… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201770. 5.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19454623&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA374%20N859SS%20-%206120.1_V3_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - passenger (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19459062&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA374%20Pilot%20rated%20Pax%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19463044&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA374%20Investigative%20Photographs_Master_Redacted_final-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.