# NTSB WPR09CA365: American Legend AL3, N918ZZ, Hemet, CA, July 25, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 25, 2009, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Hemet, CA - Coordinates: 33.733612, -117.020278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7336&lon=-117.0203&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 October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74361 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA365 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74361/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74361 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA365 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll and excessive use of the brakes. ## 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 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) - [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: 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) ## 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: 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 certificated flight instructor (CFI) was providing primary flight instruction to a student pilot in a tail wheel-equipped airplane. The CFI reported that he demonstrated the first landing, and the following landings were conducted by the student pilot. On the third landing, the airplane touched down on the main tires "straight, with no bounce." During the landing roll, while the tail wheel was still off the ground, the airplane veered slightly to the left and the student pilot applied left rudder. Subsequently, the airplane veered sharply to the left and the student pilot applied full brakes. The airplane exited the runway and nosed over. The airplane's wings and rudder sustained substantial damage. The pilots reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The certificated flight instructor (CFI) was providing primary flight instruction to a student pilot in a tail wheel-equipped airplane. The CFI reported that he demonstrated the first landing, and the following landings were conducted by the student pilot. On the third landing, the airplane touched down on the main tires "straight, with no bounce." During the landing roll, while the tail wheel was still off the ground, the airplane veered slightly to the left and the student pilot applied left rudder. Subsequently, the airplane veered sharply to the left and the student pilot applied full brakes. The airplane exited the runway and nosed over. The airplane's wings and rudder sustained substantial damage. The pilots reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N918ZZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N918ZZ), registered now, S/N AL-1058 (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-1058 - Airframe hours: 119 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Denney R. Marsh - Registered owner: Denney R. Marsh - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 24, 2008, 29 hours before - Departed: HMT, Hemet, CA - Destination: HMT, Hemet, CA - Airport: HMT, Hemet-Ryan Airport, runway 23, 4,314 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 56; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 5, 2009; seat: rear; flight hours: 18,724 total, 14 in this make and model, 18,520 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 66; injuries: none; student; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 67 total, 13 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: RIV, 15 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). - [Accident 20090725016139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090725016139A), Jul 25, 2009: Amcnlg AL3, Hemet, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot and CFI practicing wheel landings. After third wheel landing aircraft started to drift slightly left of runway centerline. Student… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74361. 540 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 540 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318153&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.