Monday Corpus Christi plane crash tied to Victoria flight school
Published 12:59 pm Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Two members of Splendid Aviation were critically injured Monday evening after a training aircraft struck power lines and crashed near Corpus Christi International Airport, according to officials.
The crash occurred around 7:25 p.m. as the aircraft approached the airport along Highway 44, according to a report by KIII-TV.
“A Piper PA-28 crashed near Corpus Christi International Airport in Texas around 7:25 p.m. local time on Monday, April 13,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. “Two people were on board. The FAA will investigate.”
The aircraft, registered to Splendid Aviation’s Victoria-based flight school, was being used for an instructional flight. Those on board — an instructor and a student — were both transported to San Antonio for specialized treatment and remain in critical condition, according to the company.
Terrance Davis, president of Splendid Aviation, said the cause of the crash remains unknown as the investigation continues.
“There was an aircraft incident right before the runway and the instructor and the student were able to get out of the plane, we saw them get out,” Davis said. “They were able to walk towards the ambulance and the ambulance took them to (CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi – Shoreline Emergency Room). After that, though, they were transported to San Antonio.”
Email newsletter signup
Loading …
Assistant Fire Chief Tony Perez with the Corpus Christi Fire Department told KIII that both individuals suffered severe burns in a post-crash fire. Fire crews extinguished the blaze, and no first responders were injured, according to the report.
In a preliminary report, the FAA said the aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances and caught fire after impact. The National Transportation Safety Board is also assisting with the investigation.
“Aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances and post crash fire, Corpus Christi, TX,” the incident report said.
Davis said the company is cooperating fully with federal investigators.
“We’re currently working with the staff, we have a safety plan down,” Davis said. “We’re simply just complying with the investigators, complying with the NTSB, FAA and we’ll go from there.”
At the request of the families, the names of those involved have not been released.
The Advocate will continue to follow the story as more information becomes available.
Lindsey Plotkin is a multimedia reporter for the Victoria Advocate. Contact her at lindsey.ploktin@vicad.com.