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.
NTSB 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.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN26LA105 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jan 31, 2026
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Pflugerville, Texas
- Nearest airport
- Austin Execuitve (EDC)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night
Cessna 441
- N-number
- N441EC
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1981
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Executive or corporate
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.