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ERA25LA374

2025-06-07 · Ridgeland, South Carolina, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 3J1

Current FAA registration · N859SS

Make / Model
AMERICAN LEGEND AIRCRAFT CO AL18
Year of manufacture
2022 · 3 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING YIO-390 SER (210 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20221214
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S ABCA68

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

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

Factual 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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2025_ERA25LA374.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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