American Legend Aircraft CO AL3 accident near San Diego, California, August 10, 2016
On August 10, 2016 at about 1:05 am local time, a 2006 American Legend Aircraft CO AL3, registered N35451, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near San Diego, California (Montgomery Field). 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing with a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2016 · about 1:05 am local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Montgomery Field · 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
- N35451 · no longer on the register · serial AL-1054
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during landing after the left main landing gear touched down, a gust of wind caused the airplane to veer to the left. The pilot further reported that he applied right rudder and full power to abort the landing, but the right main landing gear impacted an airport taxiway marker. The airplane spun to the right and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the forward left lift strut. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport, revealed that about 12 minutes before the accident the wind was 240 degrees true at 9 knots. A further review of the recorded data revealed that about 6 minutes after the accident the wind was 240 degrees true at 7 knots. The airplane landed on runway 28L.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Ability to respond/compensate
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 273 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 220 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 21, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 819.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 2016
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 891 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYF San Diego CA
- Destination: MYF San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28L, 3,401 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 1:11 am from KMYF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.