Cessna 337 accident near Brenham, Texas, September 7, 2026
On September 7, 2026 at about 5:48 pm local time, a 1968 Cessna 337, registered N2657S, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Brenham, Texas (Brenham Muni airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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
- September 7, 2026 · about 5:48 pm local time
- Place
- Brenham, Texas · Brenham Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 337 C, built 1968 · all 337s on the register
- Registration
- N2657S · registry record · serial 337-0957
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 7, 2026, about 1248 central daylight time, a Cessna 337C airplane, N2657S, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Brenham, Texas. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 post-maintenance test flight. According to the pilot, who is also a mechanic, he had recently purchased the push-pull configuration airplane on September 3, 2026. The airplane had been based for the last several years with the previous owner at the Brenham Municipal Airport (11R), Brenham, Texas. According to the aviation operations manager at 11R, he refueled the airplane prior to the flight. All four of the fuel tanks were topped off with 100 low lead fuel and he ensured the four fuel tank caps were all secured. The pilot reported there were no issues noted during the runup sequence. The airplane taxied from the ramp to runway 16 for the local area flight. During the takeoff sequence, the pilot reported the rear engine sustained a total loss of power at the point of rotation. The pilot performed a forced landing on a ranching property, about 0.85 miles to the southeast of the departure end of runway 16. The airplane came to rest upright on a flat grass field, right next to a metal fence and barn. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. The airplane is pending recovery from the accident site to a secure location for future examination. The airplane, which is known as a Super Skymaster, was built in 1968. The airplane was equipped with front and rear Continental Motors IO-360-C reciprocating engines and McCauley Propeller Systems D2AF34C59 (front) and McCauley Propeller Systems D2AF34C61 (rear) two-blade aluminum propellers. According to the meteorological reporting station located at 11R, the calculated density altitude near the time of the accident was 2,571 ft.
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 engine power (total) during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: 11R Brenham TX at 5:47 pm
- Destination: 11R Brenham TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16/3, 6,003 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from K11R, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): K11R 071735Z AUTO 23003KT 10SM BKN046 OVC055 32/21 A2998 RMK AO2 T03240214
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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 CEN26LA312.