# NTSB CEN26LA105: Cessna 441, N441EC, Pflugerville, TX, January 31, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 30, 2026, 19:51 local (Jan 31, 2026, 01:51 UTC) - Place: Pflugerville, TX - Coordinates: 30.398623, -97.566892 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3986&lon=-97.5669&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 21, 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): 202374 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202374/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202374 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA105 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a rejected takeoff due to a flat nose wheel tire which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was pilot fatigue which delayed the rejected takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: tube](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023245): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 441, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023245/cases.md?model=2076020), [All aircraft, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023245/cases.md) - [Alertness/Fatigue: fatigue due to work schedule](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013520): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 441, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013520/cases.md?model=2076020), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 441, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2076020), [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. - [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 441, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2076020), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 441, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2076020), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 441, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2076020), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 441, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2076020), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during takeoff there was a noticeable vibration from the nose landing gear, and the pilot attempted to reject the takeoff. Subsequently, the airplane departed the departure end of the runway surface, continued down an embankment, struck a fence, and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage and right wing. The pilot reported that the nose landing gear vibration was from a flat tire, and he experienced fatigue from a long duty day which resulted in a delayed response to perform a rejected takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N441EC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N441EC), registered now, S/N 441-0179, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 441 - Registry model: [Cessna 441](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-441) (registry code 2076020) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 441-0179 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 7500 - Engines: Garrett TPE331-10-403S 636 horsepower turbo prop; Garrett TPE331-10-403S 636 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Operator: Cowboy Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Cowboy Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, July 30, 2025 - Destination: GUY, Guymon, OK - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: EDC, Austin Execuitve, runway 31, 6,025 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 10, 2024; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 16,681 total, 15,577 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 350° at 16 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KEDC - METAR: METAR KEDC 300135Z AUTO 35016KT 10SM CLR 15/00 A3010 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 20260130003509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260130003509A), Jan 30, 2026: Cessna 441, Pflugerville, TX, Substantial damage. On takeoff rollout on runway 31, aircraft when approching V1 speed, nose wheel tire failed/blew out aircraft continued off the departure end of runway and came… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 21, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202374. 2.9 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=20270300&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20277574&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Pilot mor (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20276511&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20MOR-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.