American Legend AL-3C near McKinney, TX — 2009-04-20

Probable cause

THe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing. Contributing to the accident were gusty crosswinds.

NTSB narrative

During the landing rollout in gusty wind conditions, the commercial pilot applied too much pressure on the heel brake of his tailwheel-equipped single-engine airplane, which caused the tail to rise. The wind then carried the airplane over on to its back, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing strut and vertical stabilizer.

NTSB coding

• Loss of control on ground · Landing-landing roll

Related mishaps

• CESSNA A185F

  2026-06-27 · Angel Fire, NM

• CESSNA 180H

  2026-06-21 · Port Angeles, WA

• CESSNA 140

  2026-06-01 · Pasco, WA

• EAA Acro Sport II

  2026-05-31 · Sheridan, AR

• PITTS SPECIAL S-1S

  2026-05-29 · Bartlesville, OK

• GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORP GVII-G600

  2026-05-27 · Birmingham, AL