# NTSB GAA17CA084: American Legend AL3, N155WB, Pensacola, FL, November 23, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 23, 2016, 14:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Pensacola, FL
- Coordinates: 30.396944, -87.348892 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3969&lon=-87.3489&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 June 7, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94450
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94450/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94450
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA084

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s incorrect brake application during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [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 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: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; 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)

## 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 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-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); 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)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that he inadvertently pressed down on the right brake during the landing roll. The airplane veered off the runway to the right into soft grass and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut and empennage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that he must have inadvertently pressed down on the right brake during the landing roll. The airplane veered off the runway to the right into soft grass and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut and empennage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N155WB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N155WB), registered now, S/N AL-1172, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN LEGEND AIRCRAFT CO AL3 (100)
- Registry model: [American Legend AL3](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-legend-al3) (registry code 060002K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-200-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-d) (registry code 17409, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AL-1172
- Year built: 2012
- Airframe hours: 1141
- Engines: Continental O-200-D4B 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 30, 2016
- Departed: 82J, Pensacola, FL
- Destination: 82J, Pensacola, FL
- Airport: 82J, Ferguson, runway 18, 3,200 × 200 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 69; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 15, 2015; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,825 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 5,825 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 72; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 401 total, 6 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observed at: NQS, 3 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20161123020199I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161123020199I), Nov 23, 2016: American Legend Aircraft Co AL3, Pensacola, FL, Minor damage. The instructor [privacy data omitted] and pilot [privacy data omitted] were returning to Ferguson Airport (82J) after flying around baldwin county Alabama…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94450. 1.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451705&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Student Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451706&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 409 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451707&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-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.

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