Cessna 441 accident near Pflugerville, Texas, January 31, 2026
On January 31, 2026 at about 1:51 am local time, a 1981 Cessna 441, registered N441EC, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Pflugerville, Texas (Austin Execuitve airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a rejected takeoff due to a flat nose wheel tire which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was pilot fatigue which delayed the rejected takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 2026 · about 1:51 am local time
- Place
- Pflugerville, Texas · Austin Execuitve · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 441, built 1981 · all 441s on the register
- Registration
- N441EC · registry record · serial 441-0179
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during takeoff there was a noticeable vibration from the nose landing gear, and the pilot attempted to reject the takeoff. Subsequently, the airplane departed the departure end of the runway surface, continued down an embankment, struck a fence, and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage and right wing. The pilot reported that the nose landing gear vibration was from a flat tire, and he experienced fatigue from a long duty day which resulted in a delayed response to perform a rejected takeoff.
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 takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Tube › Failure
- Personnel issues › Physical › Alertness/Fatigue › Fatigue due to work schedule › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 16,681 hours in all; 15,577 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 10, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,500 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 30, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 10,340 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Garrett TPE331-10-403 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Garrett TPE331-10-403 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cowboy Aviation LLC
The flight
- Destination: GUY Guymon OK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 31, 6,025 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 350° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from KEDC
Weather report (METAR): METAR KEDC 300135Z AUTO 35016KT 10SM CLR 15/00 A3010 RMK AO2=
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 CEN26LA105.