Nanchang China CJ-6A accident near Burnet, Texas, December 31, 2025
On December 31, 2025 at about 10:10 pm local time, a 1968 Nanchang China CJ-6A, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N559TX, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) start-up) near Burnet, Texas (Burnet Muni/Kate Craddock Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to secure the airplane before hand-propping the engine, which resulted in the airplane’s unexpected movement and subsequent impact with an airport fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 31, 2025 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Burnet, Texas · Burnet Muni/Kate Craddock Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Nanchang China CJ-6A, built 1968, amateur-built · all CJ-6As on the register
- Registration
- N559TX · registry record · serial 2532079
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was parked on the ramp next to a hangar as the pilot attempted to start the engine with the help of two others. The engine was difficult to start, so the pilot exited the airplane and elected to hand prop the engine. Witnesses stated that the engine started suddenly and unexpectedly. The airplane turned right away from the hangar and taxied quickly. The pilot, who was in front of the left wing, ran toward the cockpit door and attempted to climb into the airplane. The pilot fell off the wing and sustained serious injuries. The unoccupied airplane continued across a taxiway, briefly became airborne over the runway, then settled onto the grass and impacted the airport perimeter fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Due to the pilot’s injuries, he was unable to provide a statement for the investigation. Multiple attempts to verify the magneto switch position were unsuccessful. The position of the magneto switch at the time of the accident could not be determined.
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
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) start-up) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Parking/securing › Tie › down/mooring › Not installed/available
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › (general) › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of available resources › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Last flight review: August 4, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: none
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Motorstar SRL M-14PF (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BMQ Burnet TX at 10:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KBMQ
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBMQ 312153Z AUTO 27004KT 10SM CLR 20/M01 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP214 T02001011
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on June 22, 2026. 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 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Witness | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Relative | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� NTSB Communications | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Witness Statements | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photos | PDF, 8 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 CEN26LA076.