Amateur-built CHALLENGER I accident near Anniston, Alabama, July 18, 1995
On July 18, 1995, a amateur-built CHALLENGER I, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anniston, Alabama (Mcminn airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, following an undetermined engine malfunction.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 1995
- Place
- Anniston, Alabama · Mcminn · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHALLENGER I CHALLENGER
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 526
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD AN EXPIRED STUDENT PILOT/THIRD CLASS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE. FAA RECORDS INDICATED HE HAD 160 TOTAL FLIGHT HOURS. THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS OBSERVED BY THE PILOT'S WIFE, WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE SPUTTERED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. A COURSE REVERSAL WAS STARTED. DURING THE TURN THE NOSE PORPOISED, THEN THE AIRPLANE FELL STRAIGHT DOWN. IT COLLIDED WITH A TREE ABOUT 60 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, AND SLID DOWN THE TREE TRUNK TO THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A BALLISTIC PARACHUTE WHICH HAD NOT BEEN ACTIVATED. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT THE ENGINE WAS PLACED ON A TEST MOUNT AND SUCCESSFULLY OPERATED. IT RAN NORMALLY AND SMOOTHLY, DURING THE TEST.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Flight time: 160 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 447 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 25A
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,650 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.