# NTSB CEN26LA076: Nanchang China CJ-6A, N559TX, Burnet, TX, December 31, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 31, 2025, 16:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: Burnet, TX - Coordinates: 30.743125, -98.236565 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7431&lon=-98.2366&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 202249 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202249/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202249 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA076 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to secure the airplane before hand-propping the engine, which resulted in the airplane’s unexpected movement and subsequent impact with an airport fence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Nanchang China CJ-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056183N), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Parking/securing: tie-down/mooring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011020): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Not installed/available (probable cause); cases with it: [Nanchang China CJ-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011020/cases.md?model=056183N), [All aircraft, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011020/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Nanchang China CJ-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md?model=056183N), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Nanchang China CJ-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=056183N), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of available resources](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Nanchang China CJ-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063035/cases.md?model=056183N), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063035/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Nanchang China CJ-6A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=056183N), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Nanchang China CJ-6A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056183N), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Nanchang China CJ-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=056183N), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was parked on the ramp next to a hangar as the pilot attempted to start the engine with the help of two others. The engine was difficult to start, so the pilot exited the airplane and elected to hand prop the engine. Witnesses stated that the engine started suddenly and unexpectedly. The airplane turned right away from the hangar and taxied quickly. The pilot, who was in front of the left wing, ran toward the cockpit door and attempted to climb into the airplane. The pilot fell off the wing and sustained serious injuries. The unoccupied airplane continued across a taxiway, briefly became airborne over the runway, then settled onto the grass and impacted the airport perimeter fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Due to the pilot’s injuries, he was unable to provide a statement for the investigation. Multiple attempts to verify the magneto switch position were unsuccessful. The position of the magneto switch at the time of the accident could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N559TX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N559TX), registered now, S/N 2532079, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NANCHANG CHINA CJ-6A - Registry model: [Nanchang China CJ-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/nanchang-china-cj-6a) (registry code 056183N) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Aeromotors M14PF](https://openairdocs.org/engine/aeromotors-m14pf) (registry code 00511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2532079 - Year built: 1968 - Engines: Motorstar SRL M-14PF 400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: BMQ, Burnet, TX - Airport: BMQ, Burnet Muni/Kate Craddock Fld - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: serious; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 4, 2025; seat: none; restraint: none ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KBMQ - METAR: METAR KBMQ 312153Z AUTO 27004KT 10SM CLR 20/M01 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP214 T02001011 ## 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 20251231019669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251231019669A), Dec 31, 2025: Nanchang China CJ-6A, Burnet, TX, Substantial damage. Engine started while pilot was outside aircrafts cockpit. Aircraft taxied unpiloted across airfield, east to west, gaining momentum on the eastern ramp area.… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202249. 14.8 MB in all. - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, witness (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 443 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20431643&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Memo%20for%20Record_Redacted2-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, relative (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20431102&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Memo%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilots%20son_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� NTSB communications (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20470506&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20-%20NTSB%20Communication-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 716 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20404301&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20email_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 5, PDF, 13 pages, 6.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20404617&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N559TX%20Witness%20Statements%20-%20original%20redacted%20by%20FAA_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 6, PDF, 8 pages, 7 photos, 6.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20405293&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20photos-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.