# Accident 20260108003149A: Beech A36, Sabine Pass, TX, January 8, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 8, 2026, 14:34 local time
- Place: Sabine Pass, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.7075° N, 94.0025° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7075&lon=-94.0025&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5677X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5677X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech A36 (registry code 1151604, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-550 series (registry code 17042, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,350 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26FA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26FA086) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260108003149A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AT APPROXIMATELY 1352 HRS CST, THE SUBJECT AIRCRAFT DEPARTED 3R7 ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN TO TRAVEL WEST TO GLS WITH THE PILOT AS THE SOLE OCCUPANT.  THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO A CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 6,000 FT AGL AND HEADED WESTERLY TOWARDS ITS DESTINATION AIRPORT. AT AROUND 1420 HRS CST, THE ADS-B DATA SHOWS A DROP IN ALTITUDE FROM 6,192 FEET DOWN TO 5.967 FEET WITH A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN AIRSPEED FROM 122 KTS TO 167 KTS.  THIS ANOMOLY IS CORRECTED WITHIN LESS THAN ONE MINUTE OF FLIGHT TIME, HOWEVER FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER, THE ADS-B DATA SHOWS CONTINUAL INCREASING AND DECREASING ALTITUDE OSCILLATIONS OF 30-100+ FEET.  AT 1431 HRS CST, THE ADS-B DATA INDICATES THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN AN ABRUPT DESCENT AND SIMULTANEOUS TIGHT RIGHT-HAND TURN, DESCENDING AT GREATER THAN -1,000 FEET PER MINUTE MAKING ONE COMPLETE REVOLUTION.  AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A SWAMPY AREA WITH THE WINGS DETACHED FROM THE FUSELAGE.  TIME OF IMPACT IS UNKNOWN.  AN ALNOT WAS ISSUED AT AROUND 1442 HRS CST. A SEARCH BEGAN AND THE AIRCRAFT DEBRIS FIELD WAS DISCOVERED THE FOLLOWING MORNING.  AIRCRAFT LANDED UPRIGHT AND WAS DESTROYED, FACING IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION, AND PILOT EJECTED.  NO POST CRASH FIRE EVIDENCE WAS OBSERVED.  TRAVELLING DEBRIS FIELD FROM EAST TO WEST IN LINE OF FLIGHT, AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS CONSISTED OF BOTH WINGS, THEN ENGINE AND PROP GROUP, THEN FUSELAGE AND TAIL GROUP, AND FINALLY EJECTED PILOT.  APPEARANCE AT SCENE IS OCCUPANT DIED UPON IMPACT.  NO OBVIOUS MARKERS OBSERVED AT THE SCENE TO INDICATE ANY STRUCTURAL FAILURES AS CAUSE. A REVIEW OF AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS FOUND NO ADDITIONAL DATA OTHER THAN AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO BE CORRECTLY MAINTAINED AND AIRWORTHY.  INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN26FA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26FA086), Jan 8, 2026: Beech A36 (N5677X), Sabine Pass, TX, substantial damage, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing

## Other reports on N5677X (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20030201002649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030201002649A), Feb 1, 2003: Beech A36 (N5677X), Grand Rapids, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) They departed grr IFR to ffc. At 1250:38 they were cleared for take off. At 1252:48 they were cleared to contact departure. At 1254:49 they contacted grr…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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