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20200322001269A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Bower Robert C CHALLENGER II · Lettsworth, LA · March 22, 2020

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
March 22, 2020 · 16:31 local
Place
Lettsworth, LA
Phase of flight
Landing: Approach
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N6138Z
NTSB investigation
NTSBCEN20LA131
Reported as
Bower Robert C Challenger II
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
1
N6138ZRegistration cancelled Jul 2, 2022 · Bower Robert C CHALLENGER IIS/N CH2-0997-R-1657Airframe modelBower Robert C CHALLENGER II

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

At approximately 1630L on March 22, 2020, N6138Z (light sport Challenger II), serial number CH2-0997-R-1657 was attempting to land on a private airstrip in Lettsworth, Louisiana. During the landing, wind caused the pilot to abort the landing. While trying to execute a go-around, the aircraft struck a tree and the pilot lost control causing the aircraft to impact the ground in a neighboring field.

There was one soul onboard. The pilot sustained major injuries and was airlifted to rapides regional hospital. As per first responders, the pilot never lost consciousness, but has several broken bones.

With the pilot being hospitalized during the covid-19 pandemic, the investigation has been challenging.

The aircraft (N6138Z) sustained substantial damage.

After further investigation, discovered the pilot does not have a pilot's certificate and this was the first time he had ever flown an aircraft alone. He had assumed the aircraft was a ultra-light aircraft and did not require a pilot's certificate.

As the FAA filed it

AT APPROXIMATELY 1630L ON MARCH 22, 2020, N6138Z (LIGHT SPORT CHALLENGER II), SERIAL NUMBER CH2-0997-R-1657 WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP IN LETTSWORTH, LOUISIANA. DURING THE LANDING, WIND CAUSED THE PILOT TO ABORT THE LANDING. WHILE TRYING TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE AND THE PILOT LOST CONTROL CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO IMPACT THE GROUND IN A NEIGHBORING FIELD.

THERE WAS ONE SOUL ONBOARD. THE PILOT SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES AND WAS AIRLIFTED TO RAPIDES REGIONAL HOSPITAL. AS PER FIRST RESPONDERS, THE PILOT NEVER LOST CONSCIOUSNESS, BUT HAS SEVERAL BROKEN BONES.

WITH THE PILOT BEING HOSPITALIZED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CHALLENGING.

THE AIRCRAFT (N6138Z) SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, DISCOVERED THE PILOT DOES NOT HAVE A PILOT'S CERTIFICATE AND THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME HE HAD EVER FLOWN AN AIRCRAFT ALONE. HE HAD ASSUMED THE AIRCRAFT WAS A ULTRA-LIGHT AIRCRAFT AND DID NOT REQUIRE A PILOT'S CERTIFICATE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN20LA131Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportLettsworth, LAThe 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.Mar 22, 2020 · Substantial damage