American Legend Aircraft CO AL3 and Ercoupe 415-C accident near Upland, California, February 1, 2025
On February 1, 2025 at about 9:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, American Legend Aircraft CO AL3 (N79LC) and Ercoupe 415-C (N2951H), were involved in the same accident near Upland, California (Cable airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate separation during landing, which resulted in a runway collision with another airplane.
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate separation during landing, which resulted in a runway collision with another airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 1, 2025 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Upland, California · Cable · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- American Legend Aircraft CO AL3, built 2008 · all AL3s on the register
- Registration
- N79LC · registry record · serial AL-1143
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Ercoupe 415-C, built 1946 · all 415-Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2951H · registry record · serial 3576
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the American Legend Aircraft CO AL3 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Legend Cub reported that during the landing roll on the runway of a non-towered airport, an airplane struck his airplane from behind. The Cub sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot of the Ercoupe reported that he communicated his intention to land on the runway behind the Cub over the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) while on a final approach. The pilot determined to proceed with his approach, assuming that the Cub was clear of the runway. The airplane bounced during the landing, and the pilot decided to forgo a go-around and instead continue the touchdown. During the landing roll, shortly after looking up from the instrument console, the pilot saw the Cub taxiing on the runway. Immediately, the Ercoupe pilot applied brakes and the Ercoupe’s left wing tip stuck the Cub’s empennage. Subsequently, the Ercoupe sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar and left aileron.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Ercoupe 415-C final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Legend Cub reported that during the landing roll on the runway of a non-towered airport, an airplane struck his airplane from behind. The Cub sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot of the Ercoupe reported that he communicated his intention to land on the runway behind the Cub over the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) while on a final approach. The pilot determined to proceed with his approach, assuming that the Cub was clear of the runway. The airplane bounced during the landing, and the pilot decided to forgo a go-around and instead continue the touchdown. During the landing roll, shortly after looking up from the instrument console, the pilot saw the Cub taxiing on the runway. Immediately, the Ercoupe pilot applied brakes and the Ercoupe’s left wing tip stuck the Cub’s empennage. Subsequently, the Ercoupe sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar and left aileron.
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 for the American Legend Aircraft CO AL3 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Runway incursion veh/AC/person during taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Lack of communication › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,879 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,879 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 9, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 492 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 1, 2025; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 (piston); 492 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,863 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from KCCB
Weather report (METAR): KCCB 011955Z AUTO 00000KT 5SM HZ CLR 18/02 A3015 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Ercoupe 415-C from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Runway incursion veh/AC/person during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,103 hours in all; 11.5 in the last 90 days; 4.5 in the last 30 days; 929.4 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 26, 2024
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors C85-12 (piston); 290 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR25LA087.