ATL07CA023

Factual narrative

On November 21, 2006, at 1453 central standard time, a Challenger II, homebuilt experimental airplane, N44594, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91, personal flight, collided with trees during an approach to runway 5, at the Bessemer Airport in Bessemer, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The non-certificated pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Dewitt, Arkansas on November 21, 2006 at an undetermined time. In a written statement the pilot stated "I lost control of my [air]craft on approach to Bessemer Airport on runway 5. There was a strong crosswind from the west causing severe rotor turbulence. This caused the aircraft to alternate, balloon, and sink, and I added power to regain stable flight causing a yaw to the left from which I could not recover. I hit the ground shortly before striking a pine tree on the left side of the runway. The impact with the tree severed the left wing and caused the remainder of the [air]craft to spin to the left and come to rest a short distance from the tree." Several attempts to contact the pilot by both the NTSB IIC and the FAA have been unsuccessful. The pilot did not compete an NTSB 6120.1/2 Accident Report. A review of information on file with the FAA Airman's Certification Division, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, revealed that the pilot was denied a third class medical certificate in 1991, and surrendered his private pilot certificate to the FAA. Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found the left wing separated from the fuselage, along with the left wing strut. There were no mechanical problems discovered during the post-accident examination of the airplane. The Shelby County Airport , Alabaster, Alabama, 1453 surface weather observation was wind 250-degrees at 8-knots, gusting to 15, visibility 10 miles, sky clear, temperature 39-degrees Fahrenheit, dew point temperature 37-degrees Fahrenheit, altimeter 30.26. The non-certificated pilot stated that "I lost control of my [air]craft on approach to Bessemer Airport on runway 5. There was a strong crosswind from the west causing severe rotor turbulence. This caused the aircraft to alternated balloon and sink and I added power to regain stable flight causing a yaw to the left from which I could not recover. I hit the ground shortly before striking a pine tree on the left side of the runway. The impact with the tree severed the left wing and caused the remainder of the [air]craft to spin to the left and come to rest a short distance from the tree." There were no mechanical problems discovered during the post-accident examination of the airplane. Winds were 250-degrees at 8 knots, gusting to 15 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12