Bower CHALLENGER II N6138Z

Summary

On 22 March 2020 at about 21:30 local time, a Bower CHALLENGER II registered N6138Z was involved in an accident near Lettsworth, Louisiana, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 March 2020 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Lettsworth, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Private (PVT)

Coordinates

30.9383, -91.7931

Aircraft

Bower CHALLENGER II

Registration

N6138Z

Category

Airplane

Year built

1999

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lettsworth → Lettsworth

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20LA131

1 person was seriously injured.

The owner/pilot's inability to maintain control of the airplane due to his lack of training and experience, resulting in a collision with a tree.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane owner had no flight training or flight experience before the accident flight. He reported that he had planned only to taxi the airplane but that a wind gust caused the airplane to become airborne. He attempted to land several times but was unable to because of the turbulence. During a go-around, he thought the airplane had cleared trees near the flight path, but it was momentarily overcome by turbulence and struck a tree, resulting in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage and serious injury to the pilot. The owner reported there were no issues with the airplane’s performance. It is likely the owner/pilot, at least in part, overcontrolled the airplane due to his lack of flight training and experience.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.