N157WBAmerican Champion Aircraft 8KCAB · 2014

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 pilot reported that, during the landing roll on the grass runway, the airplane began to veer to the right before the tailwheel was down. He added that he applied left rudder; however, the airplane pitched forward and the propeller struck the ground. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest inverted off the right side of the grass runway.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and right wing lift strut.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The automated weather observation system about 3 nautical miles from the accident site, about the time of the accident, reported the wind from 220° at 10 knots. The pilot landed on runway 18.