American Legend AL3 N841ML

Summary

On 17 January 2017 at about 15:30 local time, a American Legend AL3 registered N841ML, operated by Mike Lima Corporation, was involved in an accident near Pierson, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 January 2017 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Pierson, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Pierson Muni (2J8)

Coordinates

29.2500, -81.4594

Aircraft

American Legend AL3

Registration

N841ML

Category

Airplane

Year built

2006

Engines

1

Operator

Mike Lima Corporation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pierson → Pierson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA17LA091

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's improper braking during takeoff, which resulted in a nose-over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was performing a touch-and-go landing on the 2,600-ft-long, 200-ft-wide turf runway in a 5- to 10-knot tailwind. The pilot reported that during the takeoff portion of the touch-and-go, the airplane suddenly nosed over and came to rest inverted on the runway. She reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. About 500 ft of wheel marks were observed on the runway leading up to the wreckage, consistent with a loss of directional control, as the marks were initially along the runway centerline, then deviated to the left, then to the right, and then back to the left. Just before the wreckage, 1 to 2 ft of marks appeared to be skid marks, consistent with heavy braking. Examination of the airplane and testing of the brakes did not reveal any evidence of preimpact malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Given this information, it is likely that the pilot improperly applied the brakes during the attempted transition to takeoff, which resulted in a nose-over.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.