American Legend Aircraft CO AL3 accident near Pierson, Florida, January 17, 2017
On January 17, 2017 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 2006 American Legend Aircraft CO AL3, registered N841ML, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Pierson, Florida (Pierson Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper braking during takeoff, which resulted in a nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 17, 2017 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pierson, Florida · Pierson Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Legend Aircraft CO AL3, built 2006 · all AL3s on the register
- Registration
- N841ML · registry record · serial AL-1064
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was performing a touch-and-go landing on the 2,600-ft-long, 200-ft-wide turf runway in a 5- to 10-knot tailwind. The pilot reported that during the takeoff portion of the touch-and-go, the airplane suddenly nosed over and came to rest inverted on the runway. She reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. About 500 ft of wheel marks were observed on the runway leading up to the wreckage, consistent with a loss of directional control, as the marks were initially along the runway centerline, then deviated to the left, then to the right, and then back to the left. Just before the wreckage, 1 to 2 ft of marks appeared to be skid marks, consistent with heavy braking. Examination of the airplane and testing of the brakes did not reveal any evidence of preimpact malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Given this information, it is likely that the pilot improperly applied the brakes during the attempted transition to takeoff, which resulted in a nose-over.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 301 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 301 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 26, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 184 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 8, 2016; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A66B (piston); 175 hours total
- Operator: Mike Lima Corporation
The flight
- Departed from: 2J8 Pierson FL at 3:25 pm
- Destination: 2J8 Pierson FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 2,600 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from KDED, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.