On the evening of Saturday, May 24, 2025, at approximately 10:37 p.m., the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office received information regarding a possible downed aircraft in the area of FM 1724, south of Interstate 10 in Hankamer.
The small aircraft, a red and white low-wing “Commander,” was occupied by a grandfather, Larry Motte from La Porte ,Texas, and his juvenile grandson from Austin, Texas. The aircraft had last transmitted data around 4:57 p.m., showing a sudden loss of altitude.
An extensive search effort was launched involving the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Game Wardens, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the United States Coast Guard. Search teams utilized drones, helicopters, and ground crews to comb the area throughout the night and into the following day.
The search continued in the morning hours of Sunday, May 25, when the aircraft was located in a remote wooded area near the last known coordinates. Tragically, both occupants were found deceased at the crash site.
The airplane crash investigation has been turned over to the federal authorities- National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for further investigation.
Please continue to keep the family in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time. We would like to thank the many agencies, volunteers, and landowners who assisted in the search efforts.