Piper PA-12 accident near Lockhart, Texas, March 7, 2026
On March 7, 2026 at about 7:23 pm local time, a 1946 Piper PA-12, registered N2511M, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Lockhart, Texas (Lockhart Municipal Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries.
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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
- March 7, 2026 · about 7:23 pm local time
- Place
- Lockhart, Texas · Lockhart Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12, built 1946 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N2511M · registry record · serial 12-1009
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 7, 2026, about 1323 central standard time, a Piper PA-12, N2511M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lockhart, Texas. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that the airplane had about 25 gallons of fuel on board and the weight of the airplane was about 1,700 pounds. His student was on his last day of tailwheel endorsement training, and they were conducting two and three-point takeoff and landings. The instructor had checked the weather at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (KAUS), Austin, Texas, and noticed the winds were coming from the north. He stated winds were calm at Lockhart after looking at the windsock. They had made a full stop landing to the south on the grassy area between runway 18 and the taxiway. After the full stop landing, the instructor estimated that they had 900-1,000 feet of runway remaining. The instructor stated the airplane routinely takes off in 700-800 feet of runway. He opted to have the student perform the takeoff from this location. During the takeoff they heard a loud bang right after rotation. The airplane “wobbled” to the right and dipped down and the instructor pulled back. They did a three-point landing but collided with a fence and a tree resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. A review of recorded winds from a privately operated weather station in Lockhart, TX, showed the wind was out of the south but shifted to the west and then the north close to the time of the accident. The wind from the north was 10-15 knots with gusts between 15-20 knots. The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming O-320-A2B engine, tundra tires, and a Sensenich propeller. The airplane was also equipped with two video cameras. One mounted on the right wing looking towards the cockpit and one mounted in the upper right corner of the windscreen looking at the two pilots. The video provided shows the landing before the accident and the takeoff accident itself. The video was retained by the NTSB and will be reviewed in further detail.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 010° at 23 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; a few clouds at 900 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 1:31 pm from KHYI, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): SPECI KHYI 071931Z 01023KT 10SM FEW009 BKN030 OVC035 24/21 A2998 RMK AO2 PK WND 36026/1931 LTG DSNT N P0001 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
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 CEN26LA137.