Amateur-built Challenger II accident near Lettsworth, Louisiana, March 22, 2020
On March 22, 2020 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1999 amateur-built Challenger II, registered N6138Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Lettsworth, Louisiana (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 2020 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lettsworth, Louisiana · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Challenger II, built 1999
- Registration
- N6138Z · no longer on the register · serial CH2-0997-R-1657
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 960 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Lettsworth LA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: PVT Lettsworth LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 9:37 pm from HZR, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on May 5, 2020. 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 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Documentation | 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.