# NTSB CEN20LA131: Bower Challenger II, N6138Z, Lettsworth, LA, March 22, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 22, 2020, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Lettsworth, LA
- Coordinates: 30.938333, -91.793052
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9383&lon=-91.7931&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101105
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101105/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101105
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA131

## Probable cause

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.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bower Robert C CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05605U9), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bower Robert C CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=05605U9), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md)
- [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bower Robert C CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=05605U9), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bower Robert C CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=05605U9), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bower Robert C CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05605U9), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Bower Robert C CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05605U9), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

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.

## Factual narrative

On March 22, 2020, about 1630 central daylight time, amateur-built Bower Challenger II airplane, N6138Z, was substantially damaged when it collided with a tree and impacted the ground near Lettsworth, Louisiana. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he purchased the airplane about 1-1/2 weeks before the accident flight. This was his first flight. He had no previous flight time, nor had he received any flight instruction. He noted some familiarization with flying obtained from the internet. He had planned only to taxi; however, a wind gust caused the airplane to become airborne, and he ultimately flew for about 25 minutes "to get the hang of things." He attempted to land several times but was unable because of the turbulence. After another landing attempt, he again decided to go-around due to the turbulence. He thought the airplane had cleared trees near the flight path; however, the airplane was momentarily overcome by the continuing turbulence which resulted in it striking a tree. He stated there were no issues with the airplane; it was "performing flawlessly."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6138Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6138Z-2022-07-02), registration cancelled 2022-07-02, S/N CH2-0997-R-1657 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOWER Challenger II
- Registry model: [Bower Robert C CHALLENGER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/bower-robert-c-challenger-ii) (registry code 05605U9) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: CH2-0997-R-1657
- Year built: 1999
- Engines: Rotax 503 DCDI 50 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: PVT, Lettsworth, LA
- Destination: PVT, Lettsworth, LA
- Airport: PVT, Private
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; injuries: serious; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: HZR, 21 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20200322001269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200322001269A), Mar 22, 2020: Bower Robert C CHALLENGER II, Lettsworth, LA, Substantial damage. 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…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 5, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101105. 864 KB in all.

- Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483419&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 260 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483420&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 444 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483421&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.PDF
- Weather Documentation (item 4, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483422&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Documentation-Master.PDF

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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