# NTSB ERA26FA067: American Champion 8KCAB, N157WB, Irvington, AL, December 13, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report - Date: December 13, 2025, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Irvington, AL - Coordinates: 30.449245, -88.211402 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4492&lon=-88.2114&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202150 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26FA067 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202150/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26FA067 ## Preliminary report On December 13, 2025, about 1145 central standard time, an American Champion Decathlon, N157WB, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Roy E. Ray Airfield (5R7), Bayou La Batre, Alabama. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to a witness, the pilot arrived at 5R7 to retrieve two repacked parachutes, which were loaded into the airplane before departure. Security video from a nearby residence captured the airplane departing runway 18 at approximately 1145. The airplane was visible briefly after rotation; however, the audio recording captured the sound of the airplane for about 15 seconds after liftoff, followed by the sound of impact. The same witness reported that the airplane lifted off and remained low while accelerating. Near the south end of the runway, the airplane pitched up, rolled left through approximately 270 degrees from its original heading, and descended into a wooded area at a steep angle. The wreckage was located in a heavily wooded area approximately one-quarter mile west of the departure end of runway 18. The airplane came to rest in a nose-down attitude, and broken tree limbs were observed above the main wreckage. The airplane was oriented on an approximate 011-degree magnetic heading. All major components of the airplane were located at the accident site. The fuselage exhibited buckling from the nose through the empennage, with crush and twisting damage observed throughout the airframe. All flight control surfaces remained attached to their mounts. Examination revealed continuity of the aileron, elevator, and rudder control systems. The airplane was recovered and retained for further examination. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N157WB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N157WB), registered now, S/N 1139-2014, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8KCAB - Registry model: [American Champion 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8kcab) (registry code 2121000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360-H1B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-h1b) (registry code 41883, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1139-2014 - Year built: 2014 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Destination: 82J, Roscoe Field Airport, FL - Airport: 5R7, Roy E Ray, runway 18/36, 2,000 × 150 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: BFM, 13 nm away - METAR: METAR KBFM 131753Z 17005KT 10SM BKN060 22/18 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP198 T02170178 10222 20144 58014 ## 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 20251213019129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251213019129A), Dec 13, 2025: American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB, Irvington, AL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft departed (5R7) roy e. ray airfield after loading 2 parachutes onto the rear seat and securing them with the shoulder harness. Upon departure witness… ## Other investigations on N157WB (1) 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. - [NTSB GAA17CA391](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA391), Jul 1, 2017: American Champion 8KCAB (N157WB), Ferguson, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in crosswind conditions. 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.