Amateur-built SEAREY LSX accident near Briarcliff, Texas, May 24, 2026
On May 24, 2026 at about 4:50 pm local time, a 2020 amateur-built SEAREY LSX, registered N379GG, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Briarcliff, Texas (Spicewood Airport). It was a personal 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude and aircraft control during the base to final turn, which resulted in the airplane impacting the water. Contributing to the accident was reported downdraft wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 2026 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Briarcliff, Texas · Spicewood Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SEAREY LSX NO SERIES, built 2020
- Registration
- N379GG · registry record · serial 1LK553C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while turning from base to final for landing on a lake, the airplane encountered a strong downdraft. The airplane descended below the intended flight path and impacted the water with the left wing low. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he should have maintained a higher altitude and flown a wider base to final turn to provide a greater margin in the event of encountering a downdraft.
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
- Windshear or thunderstorm during approach (VFR pattern base)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Downdraft › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,096 hours in all; 205 in this make and model; 89 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 2,079 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 30, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 103.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotax Aircraft Engines 914ULS (piston); 198 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 88R Spicewood TX at 4:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from KRYW, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRYW 241655Z AUTO 17004KT 10SM CLR 27/19 A3006 RMK AO2 T02720190
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 20, 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 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.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.