American Legend AL-11 accident near Dryden, Texas, February 17, 2007
On February 17, 2007 at about 4:37 pm local time, a American Legend AL-11, registered N2480, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dryden, Texas (Terrell County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind conditions and failure to maintain proper runway alignment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 17, 2007 · about 4:37 pm local time
- Place
- Dryden, Texas · Terrell County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Legend AL-11
- Registration
- N2480 · registry record · serial AL-1068
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The the tailwheel-equipped a single-engine airplane veered off the runway and drug a wingtip during the takeoff roll. Local law enforcement personnel that responded to the accident site reported that they were told by the pilot of the airplane that they were attempting to take off from the 4,525-foot long, by 75-foot wide asphalt runway, when a gust of wind "forced the airplane off the runway." The pilot further stated that he noticed "a virtual wall of tall mesquite-like scrub trees, near my right wingtip" as another gust of wind blew the airplane further to the right. The pilot believes that he "pulled back on the stick, causing the airplane to stall." The right wingtip proceeded to strike the ground followed by the left wingtip and then the aircraft nose section. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing and engine mounts during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that the winds were from 360 degrees at 11 knots. Another weather report listed the wind from 020 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 29 knots. At 1253, the automatic weather recorded at the airport was reporting winds from 030 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 20 knots.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 466 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 235 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 3300a (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6R6 Dryden TX
- Destination: 89TE Lajitas TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 4,525 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.42 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.