American Legend Aircraft CO AL3 accident near Andover Township, New Jersey, September 14, 2021
On September 14, 2021 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 2006 American Legend Aircraft CO AL3, registered N948FS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Andover Township, New Jersey (Aeroflex-Andover airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's excessive asymmetrical application of the brakes, 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
- September 14, 2021 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Andover Township, New Jersey · Aeroflex-Andover · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Legend Aircraft CO AL3, built 2006 · all AL3s on the register
- Registration
- N948FS · registry record · serial AL-1053
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on a soft turf runway that had experienced heavy rainfall the evening before. Upon touchdown, about a third of the way down the runway, the airplane bounced slightly before settling onto the turf; the pilot applied the brakes during the landing roll, the airplane turned left, then immediately nosed over and came to rest inverted. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the wing struts and vertical stabilizer. The pilot stated that the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system › Incorrect use/operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft surface › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 187 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 40 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 14, 2021
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 562 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 562 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3N6 Old Bridge NJ at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03/2, 1,981 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from 12N
Weather report (METAR): METAR K12N 141854Z AUTO VRB03KT 27/21 A3004 RMK AO1 SLP166 T02670206=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on May 5, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation_pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation_faa | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memo for Record_faa and Pilot Email Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array_airplane Damage | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.