American Legand Aircraft AL18
Social Circle, GA — March 10, 2020
Event Information
| Date | March 10, 2020 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA20CA131 |
| Event ID | 20200318X51903 |
| Location | Social Circle, GA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 33.68583, -83.64833 |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | American Legand Aircraft |
| Model | AL18 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in the collision with terrain.
Full Narrative
According to the pilot, he was doing a low pass through an abandoned powerline easement on a small lake peninsula, which included a small hill. He was flying directly into the wind and as the airplane approached the hill, the wind direction changed as a result of the terrain, and the airplane encountered mechanical turbulence. The airplane wheels impacted the ground, the airplane bounced, and the pilot applied "heavy braking." Subsequently, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the right-wing strut and rudder. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The winds reported at an airport 6 miles to the northwest of the accident location were variable from 270° to 330° at 7 knots.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.