# NTSB WPR25LA087: American Legend AL3, N79LC, Upland, CA, February 1, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 1, 2025, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Upland, CA · On runway
- Coordinates: 34.111609, -117.68738 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1116&lon=-117.6874&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining events: [Taxi-from runway: Runway incursion veh/AC/person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320); [Landing-landing roll: Runway incursion veh/AC/person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199647
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA087
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199647/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199647
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA087

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate separation during landing, which resulted in a runway collision with another airplane.

## Findings

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

- [Communication (personnel): lack of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot, aircraft 1; cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi-from runway: Runway incursion veh/AC/person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320/sequence.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 104 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway incursion veh/AC/person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320/sequence.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 104 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320/sequence.md)

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

The pilot of the Legend Cub reported that during the landing roll on the runway of a non-towered airport, an airplane struck his airplane from behind. The Cub sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot of the Ercoupe reported that he communicated his intention to land on the runway behind the Cub over the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) while on a final approach. The pilot determined to proceed with his approach, assuming that the Cub was clear of the runway. The airplane bounced during the landing, and the pilot decided to forgo a go-around and instead continue the touchdown. During the landing roll, shortly after looking up from the instrument console, the pilot saw the Cub taxiing on the runway. Immediately, the Ercoupe pilot applied brakes and the Ercoupe’s left wing tip stuck the Cub’s empennage. Subsequently, the Ercoupe sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar and left aileron.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N79LC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N79LC), registered now, S/N AL-1143, built 2008 (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)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-series) (registry code 17402, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AL-1143
- Year built: 2008
- Airframe hours: 492
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Condition, January 1, 2025, 2 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: CCB, Cable, runway 24, 3,863 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N2951H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2951H), registered now, S/N 3576, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ERCOUPE 415-C
- Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420322) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3576
- Year built: 1946
- Engines: Continental Motors C85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Special flight (Special)
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N79LC; age 78; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review May 9, 2023; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,879 total, 2 in this make and model, 1,879 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N2951H; age 76; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review July 26, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,103 total, 929.4 as pilot in command, 11.5 in the last 90 days, 4.5 in the last 30 days, 0.3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observed at: KCCB
- METAR: KCCB 011955Z AUTO 00000KT 5SM HZ CLR 18/02 A3015 RMK AO2

## FAA reports on this event (2)

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

- [Accident 20250201004369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250201004369A), Feb 1, 2025: American Legend Aircraft Co AL3, Upland, CA, Substantial damage. Around noon local time on 02/01/2025, legend (AL3) [privacy data omitted] was landing on Cable Airport's runway 24 in Upland, CA in visual meteorlogical…
- [Accident 20250201004352A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250201004352A), Feb 1, 2025: Ercoupe 415-C, Upland, CA, Substantial damage. Around noon local time on 02/01/2025, legend (AL3) [privacy data omitted] was landing on Cable Airport's runway 24 in Upland, CA in visual meteorlogical…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 17, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199647. 133 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 cub (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18311835&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Cub_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 Ercoupe (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 131 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18312588&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Ercoupe_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 863 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18868769&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20087-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.

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