# NTSB CEN26LA196: Guenther Glen A Searey LSX, N379GG, Briarcliff, TX, May 24, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 24, 2026, 11:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Briarcliff, TX · Accident site. - Coordinates: 30.424539, -98.036299 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4245&lon=-98.0363&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 20, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA San Antonio FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203048 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA196 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203048/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203048 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA196 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude and aircraft control during the base to final turn, which resulted in the airplane impacting the water. Contributing to the accident was reported downdraft wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Guenther Glen A SEAREY LSX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=05639NY), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Guenther Glen A SEAREY LSX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05639NY), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Guenther Glen A SEAREY LSX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05639NY), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390); cases with it: [Guenther Glen A SEAREY LSX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=05639NY), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Guenther Glen A SEAREY LSX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05639NY), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while turning from base to final for landing on a lake, the airplane encountered a strong downdraft. The airplane descended below the intended flight path and impacted the water with the left wing low. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he should have maintained a higher altitude and flown a wider base to final turn to provide a greater margin in the event of encountering a downdraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N379GG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N379GG), registered now, S/N 1LK553C (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GUENTHER GLEN A SEAREY LSX (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Guenther Glen A SEAREY LSX](https://openairdocs.org/model/guenther-glen-a-searey-lsx) (registry code 05639NY) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1LK553C - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 103.5 - Engines: Rotax Aircraft Engines 914ULS 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Amphibious Adventures LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 2025 - Departed: 88R, Spicewood, TX - Airport: 88R, Spicewood Airport - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 30, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,096 total, 205 in this make and model, 2,079 as pilot in command, 89 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KRYW, 8 nm away - METAR: METAR KRYW 241655Z AUTO 17004KT 10SM CLR 27/19 A3006 RMK AO2 T02720190 ## 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 20260524008229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260524008229A), May 24, 2026: Guenther Glen A SEAREY LSX, Spicewood, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he performed several landings in different areas of lake travis. Pilot stated while on approach, he started experiencing loss of lift on aircraft.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203048. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20641988&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA196%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 212 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20641703&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA196%20photo%20array%20redacted-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.