CEN26FA086

On January 8, 2026, about 1431 central standard time, a Beech A36 airplane, N5677X, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Sabine Pass, Texas. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The airplane departed the Jennings Airport (3R7), Jennings, Louisiana, at 1351, and was en route to the Scholes International Airport (GLS), Galveston, Texas, at an altitude of 6,000 ft mean sea level (msl). The pilot had filed an instrument flight rules flight plan and was in radio communications with Houston Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON). At 1430, the pilot was given a clearance to descend to 4,000 ft msl, which was acknowledged by the pilot. ADS-B data showed that about that time, the airplane entered a rain shower followed by a descending right turn before radar contact was lost. A U.S. Coast Guard crew subsequently found the wreckage in a marsh between Salt Lake and Knight Lake following a brief search (see Figure 1). Figure 1. ADS-B track and wreckage site. The debris field consisted of four main sections which were distributed over an area about 360 ft long and 160 ft wide. The first section included the left wing and aileron that had fractured at the wing root. The second section included the outboard right wing separated near the mid spar and the right pilot’s seat. The third section included the propeller, engine, cowling, and cockpit instrumentation which were submerged in the marshy terrain. The final section included the aft cabin and empennage (see Figure 2). Smaller portions of doors, insulation, and aileron were located between the major wreckage areas. There was no evidence of fire. The flaps appeared to be in the retracted position. Figure 2. Accident site wreckage locations. The airplane was retained for further examination. A preliminary review of weather information revealed rain showers were present in the airplane’s route of flight when the right descending turn began (see Figure 3). Figure 3. Weather radar information for 1430 CST - rain shower annotated in the circle.