Beech A36 accident near Sabine Pass, Texas, January 8, 2026
On January 8, 2026 at about 8:31 pm local time, a 1993 Beech A36, registered N5677X, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Sabine Pass, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- January 8, 2026 · about 8:31 pm local time
- Place
- Sabine Pass, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36, built 1993 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N5677X · registry record · serial E-2797
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On January 8, 2026, about 1431 central standard time, a Beech A36 airplane, N5677X, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Sabine Pass, Texas. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The airplane departed the Jennings Airport (3R7), Jennings, Louisiana, at 1351, and was en route to the Scholes International Airport (GLS), Galveston, Texas, at an altitude of 6,000 ft mean sea level (msl). The pilot had filed an instrument flight rules flight plan and was in radio communications with Houston Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON). At 1430, the pilot was given a clearance to descend to 4,000 ft msl, which was acknowledged by the pilot. ADS-B data showed that about that time, the airplane entered a rain shower followed by a descending right turn before radar contact was lost. A U.S. Coast Guard crew subsequently found the wreckage in a marsh between Salt Lake and Knight Lake following a brief search (see Figure 1). Figure 1. ADS-B track and wreckage site. The debris field consisted of four main sections which were distributed over an area about 360 ft long and 160 ft wide. The first section included the left wing and aileron that had fractured at the wing root. The second section included the outboard right wing separated near the mid spar and the right pilot’s seat. The third section included the propeller, engine, cowling, and cockpit instrumentation which were submerged in the marshy terrain. The final section included the aft cabin and empennage (see Figure 2). Smaller portions of doors, insulation, and aileron were located between the major wreckage areas. There was no evidence of fire. The flaps appeared to be in the retracted position. Figure 2. Accident site wreckage locations. The airplane was retained for further examination. A preliminary review of weather information revealed rain showers were present in the airplane’s route of flight when the right descending turn began (see Figure 3). Figure 3. Weather radar information for 1430 CST - rain shower annotated in the circle.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: 3R7 Jennings LA at 7:52 pm
- Destination: GLS Galveston TX
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,500 ft; a few clouds at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from KBPT, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): SPECI KBPT 082000Z 18013KT 10SM FEW019 OVC075 24/21 A2983 RMK AO2 T02440211
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N5677X the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 CEN26FA086.