American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB accident near Irvington, Alabama, December 13, 2025
On December 13, 2025 at about 5:45 pm local time, a 2014 American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB, registered N157WB, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Irvington, Alabama (Roy E Ray 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 13, 2025 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Irvington, Alabama · Roy E Ray · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB, built 2014 · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N157WB · registry record · serial 1139-2014
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Destination: 82J Roscoe Field Airport FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18/3, 2,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 12:00 pm from BFM, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBFM 131753Z 17005KT 10SM BKN060 22/18 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP198 T02170178 10222 20144 58014
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N157WB 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.