Champion 7KCAB accident near Collinston, Louisiana, April 30, 2017
On April 30, 2017 at about 9:35 pm local time, a 1968 Champion 7KCAB, registered N1899G, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Collinston, Louisiana. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the flight instructor and the commercial pilot to maintain adequate clearance from a power line during an aerial application training flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 2017 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Collinston, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7KCAB NO SERIES, built 1968 · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N1899G · no longer on the register · serial 100
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and the commercial pilot receiving instruction were conducting an aerial application training flight. After flying over a field, the airplane descended to low altitude and flew a practice spray pass from south to north. The field was not a designated practice area for the flight school and was adjacent to a prison. At the end of the field, the airplane pitched up, collided with a power line, and impacted the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Awareness of condition
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,114 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 1, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 650 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 560 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 28, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,135 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 2016; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO320-E2A (piston); 6,246 hours total
- Operator: Flying Tiger Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: BQP Bastrop LA at 9:20 pm
- Destination: BQP Bastrop LA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 9:35 pm from KBQP, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on September 23, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Correspondence with Flight School Manager | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Toxicological Report - Flight Instructor | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Toxicological Report - Commercial Pilot (Student) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Personal Electronic Device - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.