This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N3215U
- History of Flight:
On February 11, 2026, at about 1711 local time, a Beechcraft A36 Bonanza, N3215U, registered to Aileron T LLC out of Orlando, Florida, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Brownboro, Texas. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The flight originated from Center Municipal Airport (F17), Center, Texas, and was destined to an unconfirmed location.
According to preliminary automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, at 1638 LT, the airplane departed F17 and entered a climb to a cruising altitude of 4,300 ft. At 1708:07, about 30 minutes after takeoff, the airplane entered a left hand descending turn from its cruising altitude and towards TX40. This was followed by a tight left downwind for runway 34 at the airport. The airplane impacted powerlines and terrain short of the runway.
The FAA reported: "Aircraft declared an emergency due to oil covering the windshield, diverted, impacted power lines and crashed short of the runway."
Figure 1: ADS-B exchange track ran through Google Earth, point of descent
Figure 2: End of track (note that other tracking sites like FR24 kept processing data for a few more seconds)
- Pilot Information:
The pilot held an airline transport certificate, last issued/updated 4/12/2016, with a rating for airplane multi engine land, and held commercial privileges for airplane single engine land. He also held a flight instructor certificate, a remote pilot certificate, and a ground instructor certificate. The pilot's last FAA BasicMed Course was dated 5/15/2024, with the following notes: "Not valid for any class after 05/31/2025, Must use corrective lens(es) to meet vision standards at all required distances."
- Airplane Information:
The accident aircraft, serial number E-2915, was manufactured in 1994. It was a 6-seat, low-wing, retractable gear, single engine airplane powered by a Continental IO-550 engine.
- Wreckage and Impact Information:
The airplane came to rest nose down south of the airport after colliding with powerlines. The airplane was mostly intact. Both wings and tail remained attached to the airframe. There was no post crash fire. The main landing gear were deployed. The outer left wing was separated. At least one propeller blade remained attached to the propeller hub, which was separated from the engine. There was evidence of fresh oil clinging to the bottom of the fuselage skin (see figures)
Figure 3: Aircraft Damage
Figure 4: Aircraft Damage
Figure 5: Closeup of figure 4, note oil on bottom of fuselage
- Airport Information:
Echo Lake Airport is a private use airport located 3 miles southwest of Brownsboro, Texas. The airport field elevation is 465 ft. The airport features a single asphalt runway 16/34 which is 2600 x 40 ft. Runway 34 features a left traffic pattern.
- Weather:
The reported weather at 1655, about 16 minutes before the accident ,included winds from 320 at 3 knots, 10 miles visibility, a scattered cloud layer at 3,200 ft, a temprature of 20°C, a dewpoint of 3°C, an 30.14 inches of mercury.
The reported weather at 1715, about 16 minutes before the accident ,included winds from 330 at 4 knots, 10 miles visibility, no clouds under 12,000 ft (CLR), a temprature of 20°C, a dewpoint of 4°C, an 30.15 inches of mercury.
(1) METARs:
METAR KF44 112255Z AUTO 32003KT 10SM SCT032 20/03 A3014 RMK AO2
METAR KF44 112315Z AUTO 33004KT 10SM CLR 20/04 A3015 RMK AO2
(2) Sun and Moon Data:
The sun’s position at the time of the accident was about 12° over the horizon on an azimuth of 246° WSW, and the the Moon was -51 degrees under the horizon on an azimuth of 260° W. The official sunrise occurred at 1816 LT. The official meridian occurred at 1244 LT. The moonset occurred at 1255 LT.
(3) Area Forecast Discussion:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
527 PM CST Wed Feb 11 2026
...New AVIATION...
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Above normal temperatures will persist through the middle of
next week.
- Widespread showers and storms are expected late Friday through
late Saturday. Locally heavy rainfall will be possible,
particularly east of the I-35 corridor.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(This afternoon through Thursday)
Issued at 1208 PM CST Wed Feb 11 2026
Quiet and pleasant weather will prevail through the short term in
the wake of Tuesday`s cold front. North winds will continue
today, with slightly cooler temperatures (but still above average)
in the mid 60s to mid 70s. Following another cooler night with
lows in the 40s, the return of southerly winds will result in
warmer temperatures on Thursday, with afternoon highs returning to
the 70s areawide. There will continue to be a slightly elevated
threat for grassfires for areas west of I-35 this afternoon due to
low humidity and above normal temperatures. Fortunately, wind
speeds will be relatively light, which will mitigate fire spread
should any fires develop. Increasing humidity tomorrow will keep
any fire weather concerns to a minimum.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Thursday night through next Tuesday)
Issued at 1208 PM CST Wed Feb 11 2026
Our next rain-producing system will be approaching the region
Thursday night into Friday as a cut-off low moves eastward through
the Southwest CONUS and northern Mexico. Showers and thunderstorms
may develop as early as Friday afternoon near the Red River.
However, the greatest chances for showers and storms will hold
off until Friday night and Saturday when widespread showers with
embedded thunderstorms are expected to develop and gradually move
east across the region as the upper low moves overhead. This will
make for a rather rainy Valentine`s Day, so ensure you`re
monitoring the weather, and plan for disruptions to any outdoor
plans.
Nearly the entire region is expected to receive beneficial
rainfall with this system, with average rainfall totals ranging
between 1/2" and 2". The highest rainfall totals are generally
expected to be east of the I-35 corridor where moisture will be
the most plentiful. However, there could be the potential for
multiple rounds of showers and storms along the Red River, which
would result in higher totals for these areas as well. Reasonable
high-end amounts are currently expected to be upwards of 2.5-3".
Drought conditions have redeveloped as a result of the
precipitation deficit across the region, which should allow for
some mitigation of any flooding concerns. However, the extent of
our flood threat will likely depend more on how quickly any
heavier rain occurs. With the potential for embedded, locally
heavy rainfall, we`ll have to monitor the potential for flooding,
especially within any urban areas.
There still appears to be an isolated potential for severe
weather, but this threat is rather conditional at this time.
Meager instability will keep the threat low overall, but it`s
possible any surface forcing mechanisms may not align with
afternoon instability, as the cold front associated with this
system isn`t expected to arrive until Saturday night. This
introduces uncertainty as to how intense these storms will be, but
as it currently stands, isolated strong to marginally severe
storms can`t be ruled out. This threat would be highest across
Central Texas but could extend towards the Red River depending on
how far north an axis of instability is able to develop.
The aforementioned cold front will bring an end to most of the
showers and storms Saturday evening/night, though a few showers or
storms may linger through Sunday morning until the upper low
eventually departs to our east. Slightly cooler weather is
expected on Sunday with afternoon highs in the 60s to low 70s.
However, the cool-down will be short-lived, as highs will return
to the 70s and 80s early next week.
&&
.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 523 PM CST Wed Feb 11 2026
Weak north flow at 5-10 kts will become near calm overnight. When
winds return around sunrise tomorrow, they will generally be out
of the SE (130-160) at ~5 kts. Just beyond the TAF period (After
06Z tomorrow night), patchy fog may develop in portions of E and
SE TX, but should remain away from TAF sites. As such, expect VFR
conditions to prevail for the duration of this forecast period at
all TAF sites.
- Additional Information:
No.
