# NTSB CEN26LA070: Glynn RS-3, N3012G, Crabapple, TX, December 19, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 19, 2025, 08:26 local (14:26 UTC) - Place: Crabapple, TX · Accident location in riverbed. - Coordinates: 30.55717, -98.78715 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5572&lon=-98.7871&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 12, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202219 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202219/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202219 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA070 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a fence cable guy-line during low-level maneuvering over a river. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Starley Glynn RS-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=05613I2), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Starley Glynn RS-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=05613I2), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Starley Glynn RS-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=05613I2), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Starley Glynn RS-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=05613I2), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Starley Glynn RS-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05613I2), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, while conducting a low-level flight over a river, and upon attempting a low-level pass over a riverbed sand bar in his tail wheel-equipped airplane, he did not see a high-water fence cable guy-line above the riverbed. The airplane’s main landing gear impacted the cable guy-line, and the airplane subsequently impacted the sand bar. The airplane came to rest upright, and the pilot and the passenger were able to egress from the airplane without further incident. The airplane was destroyed due to a post impact fire that started forward of the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further reported that the accident could have been prevented by maintaining a higher altitude to avoid objects. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3012G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3012G), registered now, S/N 3001, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Glynn RS-3 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Starley Glynn RS-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/starley-glynn-rs-3) (registry code 05613I2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 3001 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 624.2 - Engines: Continental Motors O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 19, 2025, 18 hours before - Departed: AQO, Llano, TX - Destination: AQO, Llano, TX - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 24, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,282 total, 285 in this make and model, 1,160 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: KAQO, 15 nm away - METAR: METAR KAQO 191415Z AUTO 34004KT 10SM CLR M01/M03 A3023 RMK AO2 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20251219018739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251219018739A), Dec 19, 2025: Starley Glynn RS-3, Llano, TX, Destroyed. On December 19, 2025, at approximately 0830 local time, a Starley Glynn RS-3 aircraft was involved in an accident while conducting a low-altitude pass over a… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202219. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19770223&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA070%20NTSB%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 305 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19769487&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA070%20Pilot%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19770381&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA070%20%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.