# NTSB WPR24LA118: American Legend AL18, N458RS, Phoenix, AZ, March 28, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 28, 2024, 13:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ · Phoenix Deer Valley Airport - Coordinates: 33.688306, -112.08255 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6883&lon=-112.0825&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 194003 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194003/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194003 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA118 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## 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: [American Legend AL18, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0600085), [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 AL18, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0600085), [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 AL18, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0600085), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [American Legend AL18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=0600085), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [American Legend AL18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0600085), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that after touchdown, while he applied aft control stick input for a 3-point landing, the main wheels either lifted off the ground or became light. The airplane began to drift to the left and the pilot attempted to correct with right rudder. However, the airplane settled back onto the runway in a “crossed up/forward motion,” the airplane began to skid, and the left wing struck the ground which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 7R, and the wind was calm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N458RS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N458RS), registered now, S/N AL-1188, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN LEGEND AIRCRAFT CO AL18 - Registry model: [American Legend AL18](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-legend-al18) (registry code 0600085) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming YO-233](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-yo-233) (registry code 42413, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AL-1188 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 191.7 - Engines: LYCOMING YO-233-B2A 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 19, 2023, 20 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: DVT, Phoenix Deer Valley, runway 07R, 8,196 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review July 18, 2023; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 226 total, 12 in this make and model, 145 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KDVT, 1 nm away - METAR: KDVT 281953Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 23/01 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP136 T02280011 ## 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 20240328004039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240328004039A), Mar 28, 2024: American Legend Aircraft Co AL18, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. Upon touchdown on runway 7R a cross wind was blowing from south side/rightside of aircraft. Attempted a 3 point full stall landing. Cross wind blew the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 19, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194003. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17834795&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20WPR24LA118%20458RS%20Ground%20Loop_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 737 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16970912&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20WPR24LA118-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.