- Date
- September 27, 2017, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Bessemer, AL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N200XWAmerican Legend AL18
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170927011309A
- Case key
- 96104
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The student pilot’s incorrect application of the brakes and subsequent failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The flight instructor, who was providing instruction to the student pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, reported that, during the landing roll, the student failed to maintain directional control, and the airplane swerved right and then left. He added that, during the attempted remediation of the second swerve, the tail started to rise with an "associated tire squeal." Subsequently, the propeller struck the ground, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor also reported that he believed that "the student inadvertently got on the brakes."
Factual narrative
The flight instructor, who was providing instruction in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, the student pilot failed to maintain directional control and the airplane swerved right and then left. He added that, during the attempted remediation of the second swerve, the tail started to rise with an "associated tire squeal." Subsequently, the propeller struck the ground and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor also reported that, it was his belief that "the student inadvertently got on the brakes."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N200XW
- Reported as
- American Legend AL18 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AL-1208
- Built
- 2016
- Airframe hours
- 128.4
- Engine
- Titan CC-340, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Departed
- EKY · Bessemer, AL
- Destination
- EKY · Bessemer, AL
- Airport
- EKY · Bessemer, runway 05, 6,007 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Electronic primary flight display
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 42
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 22, 2017
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 11,108 total · 9 in this make and model · 7,989 as pilot in command · 267 in the last 90 days · 82 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 36
- Injuries
- None
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 9 total · 9 in this make and model · 9 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- KEKY
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 22, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.