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WPR24LA118

2024-03-28 · Phoenix, Arizona, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport DVT

Current FAA registration · N458RS

Make / Model
AMERICAN LEGEND AIRCRAFT CO AL18
Year of manufacture
2014 · 10 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING YO-233 (115 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20240914
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A5915C

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

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

Factual 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. 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_2024_WPR24LA118.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.