# NTSB CEN25LA161: Champion Aeronca 7AC, N83871, Estherwood, LA, April 19, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 19, 2025, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Estherwood, LA - Coordinates: 30.126632, -92.446775 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1266&lon=-92.4468&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Baton Rouge FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200040 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200040/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200040 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA161 ## Probable cause The non-certificated pilot’s failure to maintain altitude while maneuvering at low altitude that resulted in a descent and impact into terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion AERONCA 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2110140), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion AERONCA 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=2110140), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion AERONCA 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2110140), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion AERONCA 7AC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2110140), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot stated that he departed from a local airport to drop candy for family members on his private airstrip. As he approached the airstrip, he descended to 200 ft agl and then descended further to drop the candy. The pilot said he got distracted as he looked over his left shoulder during the attempted candy drop, and the airplane impacted the terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the airplane that would have precluded normal airplane operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83871](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83871), registered now, S/N 7AC-2552 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION AERONCA 7AC - Registry model: [Champion AERONCA 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110140) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-2552 - Year built: 1946 - Engines: Continental A&C65 SERIES 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: S&S Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Airport: PVT, Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; seat: front; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 11 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,600 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: 3R7, 2 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 20250419005319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250419005319A), Apr 19, 2025: Champion AERONCA 7AC, Crowley, LA, Substantial damage. Pilot descended from 700 to 200 feet to drop candy from the airplane to a family gathering. Pilot was distracted after dropping candy and aircraft struck the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200040. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19052824&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2025-05-27%2015.38%20TINY%20SCANNER_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 391 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19053242&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-Rel.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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.