Flying Cloud AL18 N859SS

Summary

On 7 June 2025 at about 18:30 local time, a Flying Cloud AL18 registered N859SS, operated by Preferred Landing LLC, was involved in an accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina, 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

7 June 2025 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Ridgeland, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Ridgeland-Claude Dean (3J1)

Coordinates

32.4939, -80.9916

Aircraft

Flying Cloud AL18

Registration

N859SS

Category

Airplane

Year built

2022

Engines

1

Operator

Preferred Landing LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Foreman → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA25LA374

Nobody was injured.

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

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the decent, the pilot-rated passenger stated that the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane asked him if he wanted to attempt a landing. He accepted with the condition that the pilot remain on the flight controls with him. During touchdown, the airplane bounced, and the pilot took control of the airplane from the pilot-rated passenger. The airplane bounced again and then ground loop. The airplane’s right wing and right horizontal stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.