American Legend AL18 N458RS

Summary

On 28 March 2024 at about 20:20 local time, a American Legend AL18 registered N458RS was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 March 2024 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Phoenix Deer Valley (DVT)

Coordinates

33.6883, -112.0826

Aircraft

American Legend AL18

Registration

N458RS

Category

Airplane

Year built

2014

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR24LA118

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.