Jefferson County, TX (January 10, 2026) – Authorities confirmed that the body of a pilot was recovered on Friday morning following the crash of a single-engine aircraft near Knight Lake in Southeast Texas. The tragic discovery came after an extensive search operation that began on Thursday afternoon.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported that the crash occurred around 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, when officials lost contact with a Beech B3-36 aircraft registered under tail number N5677X. The plane had departed Jennings earlier that day en route to Scholes International Airport in Galveston after completing a previous flight from Thibodaux.
Flight tracking data from FlightAware indicated that the aircraft’s path abruptly ended near Knight Lake, just west of Sabine Pass. A U.S. Coast Guard aircraft later located the wreckage late Thursday night in a remote section of the area.
On Friday morning, just before 9:30 a.m., Jefferson County Justice of the Peace Ben Collins Sr. confirmed the recovery of the pilot’s body from the crash site. The pilot was reportedly the sole occupant of the aircraft. His identity has not yet been released pending notification of next of kin.
Authorities are working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to investigate the cause of the crash.
We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the pilot during this difficult time.
