CEN26FA114

On February 11, 2026, about 1726 central standard time, a Beech A36 airplane, N3215U, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Murchison, Texas. The pilot and the pilot-rated passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal cross-country flight. According to the pilot’s family, the purpose of the flight was to visit family in the Dallas, Texas, area. The pilot, who owned the airplane, was stationed in the front left seat and the pilot-rated passenger was stationed in rear right seat near the rear entry door. Onboard the airplane were various bags, suitcases, office supplies, a cooler, and a dog. A preliminary review of ADS-B data showed the airplane departed from the Orlando Executive Airport (ORL), Orlando, Florida, on the morning of the accident, about 1027 eastern standard time. The airplane flew to the northwest and stopped at the DeFuniak Springs Airport (54J), DeFuniak Springs, Florida. The airplane then departed from 54J, about 1245 central standard time, it flew to the northwest and stopped at the Center Municipal Airport (F17), Center, Texas. The airplane then departed from F17, about 1635 central standard time, and it flew to the northwest toward Tyler, Texas. Shortly after crossing Lake Palestine, the pilot contacted air traffic control and declared an emergency stating that there was oil on the airplane’s windscreen. The pilot told the controller that he was going to land at the Echo Lake Airport (TX40), Murchison, Texas. The ADS-B data showed the airplane flew to the north of TX40, turned to the south, and shortly after the data terminated. During the emergency landing, the airplane impacted pine trees and a power line pole. The airplane came to rest on the eastern side of the airport on the front lawn of a private residence. The empennage was found resting on a power line. The airplane came to rest at a nose down attitude about 45°. The dog, who was not injured, was extracted from the airplane by a witness. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and to the wings. Examination of the wreckage found two holes in the engine crankcase above the location of the Nos. 2 and 4 cylinders. Oil was observed on the windscreen, the area above the windscreen on the fuselage, the left side of the engine, and the underside of the fuselage. The wreckage was recovered from the accident site, and it was transported to a secure location for future examination. A Garmin GTN 750 unit, a Garmin GDU 1060 unit, and J.P. Instruments Engine Data Monitor (an unknown model) unit were removed from the airplane and were sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory. The airplane, which was manufactured in 1994, was equipped with a Continental Motors IO-550-B reciprocating engine and a Hartzell Propeller PHC-C3YF-1RF three-blade controllable pitch aluminum propeller. The pilot held an airline transport certificate, along with a flight instructorcertificate, a ground instructor certificate, and a remote pilot certificate. According to the pilot’s family, he was an active flight instructor in Florida and Texas, and the airplane was based out of ORL. The pilot-rated passenger held a student pilot certificate.