Aviat Aircraft INC A-1B accident near Matagorda Island, Texas, January 4, 2022
On January 4, 2022 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 2005 Aviat Aircraft INC A-1B, registered N188DS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Matagorda Island, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of directional control during an intentional off-airport landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 4, 2022 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Matagorda Island, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat Aircraft INC A-1B NO SERIES, built 2005 · all A-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N188DS · registry record · serial 2326
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was performing a precautionary landing on a beach when the airplane veered left and impacted a sand dune, resulting in substantial damage. Following the accident, he reported to his insurance company that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and that he chose to land on the beach to take a photo. The airplane was not examined following the accident; however, the circumstances are consistent with the pilot’s loss of directional control during an off-airport landing.
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 on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,004 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 109 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 1,840 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 2, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1P (piston); 895 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MFE Mcallen TX at 4:00 pm
- Destination: CWF St. Charles LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KRKP, 21 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRKP 041653Z AUTO 11003KT 9SM CLR 17/10 A3022 RMK AO2 SLP234 T01720100=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 8, 2023. 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/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Case Findings | 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.