What happened
On April 13, 2026, at approximately 19:19 CDT, a Piper PA-28-180, registration N317HM, was destroyed following an accident near Corpus Christi, Texas. The aircraft was being operated by SPLENDID AVIATION-VICTORIA LLC as an instructional flight under 14 CFR Part 91.
ADS-B data indicated the aircraft departed Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP) at approximately 18:50. The crew, consisting of a flight instructor and a student pilot, was performing touch-and-go takeoff and landing practice. During the short final approach for runway 13, the crew experienced an engine issue. The flight instructor took control of the aircraft upon realizing the engine malfunction was occurring.
The aircraft subsequently struck power lines and impacted a service road located approximately 0.5 nm northwest of runway 13. A fire occurred following the impact. The accident resulted in 2 serious injuries and 0 fatalities.
According to the flight school owner, the student pilot was in the process of transitioning from a Cessna 172 to the Piper Cherokee. Fuel records indicated the aircraft was fueled with 14 gallons, bringing the total fuel on board to 36 gallons. The aircraft had undergone a 100-hour inspection on April 1, 2026, having flown approximately 23 hours since that inspection. Recent maintenance within the previous three months included the replacement of the starter ring gear, the right magneto, and the right magneto p-lead.