Grandfather and Grandson Killed in Small Plane Crash Near Hankamer

On the evening of Saturday, May 24, 2025, at approximately 10:37 p.m., the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible downed aircraft in the area of FM 1724, south of Interstate 10 in Hankamer, Texas.

The aircraft, a red and white low-wing “Commander,” was occupied by Larry Motte of La Porte and his juvenile grandson from Austin. The plane’s last transmission occurred at 4:57 p.m., indicating a sudden loss of altitude.

An extensive multi-agency search began immediately. Personnel from the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Game Wardens, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the United States Coast Guard used drones, helicopters, and ground crews to search the area through the night.

On the morning of Sunday, May 25, searchers located the aircraft in a remote wooded area near its last known coordinates. Both occupants were found deceased at the scene.

The crash is now under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).