Amateur-built 114A accident near Hankamer, Texas, May 24, 2025
On May 24, 2025 at about 9:58 pm local time, a 1979 amateur-built 114A, registered N5903N, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Hankamer, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 2025 · about 9:58 pm local time
- Place
- Hankamer, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 114A, built 1979
- Registration
- N5903N · registry record · serial 14520
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 24, 2025, about 1658 central daylight time (CDT), a Rockwell Commander 114A airplane, N5903N, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Hankamer, Texas. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. ADS-B data for the accident flight was provided by the Federal Aviation Administration. The recorded data showed the airplane as it departed from the Baytown Airport, Baytown, Texas, about 1627, and flew to the east, before making several turns between 2,500 ft to 4,000 ft mean sea level (MSL), as depicted in figure 1. Shortly before the accident, the airplane flew north and climbed to about 4,275 ft MSL while the airspeed decreased, as depicted in figure 2 and figure 3. About 1657:30, the airplane had decelerated to about 59 knots calibrated airspeed when it entered a steep descent. At 1657:48, the final recorded ADS-B data return indicated that the airplane was descending through 1,366 feet MSL with a descent rate more than 14,700 feet per minute. That final ADS-B return was about 790 ft south of the accident site. Security video from a nearby business captured the airplane as it descended and impacted terrain. The airplane appeared to be intact and in a steep nose-low attitude, as shown in figure 4. A review of the video did not reveal a significant change in the airplane’s roll or pitch attitude during the recorded descent. Figure 1 – Airplane ground track based on ADS-B data. Figure 2 – Airplane altitude, ground speed, true airspeed, calibrated airspeed, and vertical speed. Figure 3 – Airplane ground track angle, roll angle, and flight path angle. Figure 4 – Security camera video screenshot overlays. The airplane impacted in a heavily wooded area; ground signatures and the associated debris field were consistent with a high-energy, high angle impact. The initial impact point were tree limbs and ground impact signatures consistent with a near vertical descent into terrain. Debris fanned out between 300° and 045° with left wing pieces and parts of the empennage located directly north of the impact point. The airplane’s cruciform tail section, to include the rudder and elevators, was located at the top of the impact site, and the remainder of the airplane was buried within the terrain with the engine located about 10 ft. down. The pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane single engine land. On his most recent application for a FAA medical certificate, dated October 18, 2024, the pilot reported having accrued 1,230 total hours with 40 hours logged in the preceding six months.
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 maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: KHPY Baytown TX at 9:27 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 16 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,300 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from KEFD, 30 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KEFD 242154Z 16016G23KT 10SM SCT043 32/23 A2992
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN25FA184.