Piper PA46 accident near Burke, Texas, April 5, 2026
On April 5, 2026 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1990 Piper PA46, registered N95AG, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Burke, Texas (Angelina County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane’s encounter with unexpected low-level wind shear during final approach, which resulted in a hard impact with the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 2026 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Burke, Texas · Angelina County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA46 350P, built 1990 · all PA46s on the register
- Registration
- N95AG · registry record · serial 4622110
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and the flight instructor were conducting an instrument proficiency check flight. After performing two approaches and an uneventful landing at the airport, the airplane departed to perform a simulated engine out scenario under (simulated) instrument flight rules conditions. During the approach with the engine power reduced and the main landing gear extended, as the airplane approached the runway threshold, the airplane dropped “precipitously,” and the flight crew felt a hard impact on the runway. The pilot then executed a go around. The pilot noted the main landing gear indicator showed all three green lights illuminated; however, the right-side main landing gear had sheared off during the hard impact. During the subsequent landing with full flaps, the right wing impacted the runway, the airplane departed the runway to the right, and it came to rest upright on a flat grass field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. A review of meteorological data showed the likely presence of low-level wind shear at the accident site, at the time of the accident. The airplane was equipped with onboard weather capability, and the pilot reported that the flight crew did study the inbound weather before the first approach and landing at the airport. The pilot further reported that he utilized ForeFlight for his preflight weather planning. The FAA has published Wind Shear FAA-P-8740-40. This document discusses wind shear at a low altitude and states in part: When the altitude of the encounter is too low to make a recovery, or the shear itself is strong enough to overcome aircraft performance capability, the aircraft lands short. The document also discusses three ways to prevent a hazardous encounter with wind shear and states: Know wind shear is there. Know the magnitude of the change. Be prepared to correct or go around immediately.
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 approach (IFR final approach)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (IFR final approach)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR go-around)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Evacuation during post (impact)
- Windshear or thunderstorm during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Windshear › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Windshear › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Windshear › Ability to respond/compensate
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,061 hours in all; 1,211 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,533 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 9, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,814 hours in all; 218 in this make and model; 104 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 16,848 as pilot in command; 3,360 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 13, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,167 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-35 (turboprop); 2,071 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LFK Burke TX at 8:10 pm
- Destination: LFK Burke TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07/2, 5,400 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from KLFK
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLFK 051953Z AUTO 35008KT 10SM CLR 20/06 A3025 RMK AO2 SLP239 T02000056 $
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 CEN26LA159.