Piston Beechcraft Accidents 11/9/2023 through 11/17/2023
Official information from FAA and NTSB sources (unless otherwise noted). Editorial comments (contained in parentheses), year-to-date summary and closing comments are those of the author. All information is preliminary and subject to change. Comments are meant solely to enhance flying safety. Please use these reports to help you more accurately evaluate the potential risks when you make your own decisions about how and when to fly.
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THE WEEKLY ACCIDENT UPDATE IS AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCT OF MASTERY FLIGHT TRAINING, INC.
New reports this week
11/12 1950Z (1150 local Sunday morning): A Be23 “experienced flight control malfunction” and the pilot “made an emergency landing” at the Santa Ynez, California airport. The three aboard were unhurt and airplane damage is “minor”. N2358Z (M-70) is a 1972 Musketeer.
(“Control malfunction in flight”—sounds like a great job by the pilot).
New NTSB reports this week
10/1 “serious injuries” C23 loss of directional control during a go-around, at Waupaca, Wisconsin.
From the report:
The pilot reported that during the landing, the airplane bounced twice, and he initiated a go-around. During the go-around, the airplane departed the runway to the left, and impacted a grass hill near the runway. The airplane came to rest upright and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot informed local authorities there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the go-around, that resulted in a runway excursion and an impact with terrain.
Change “Takeoff/unknown” to “Loss of directional control during go-around” and add “Airplane destroyed.”
10/20 A36 double fatality loss of directional control shortly after takeoff at Covelo, California. From the report:
According to a witness, the airplane lifted off the runway surface near the departure end of the runway…. The airplane began a left turn towards the northwest…in a nose-high attitude…. A second witness observed the airplane as it cleared a group of trees by about 20 feet while it continued its left turn…. As the airplane turned toward the south its bank angle increased to about 70° and the airplane…descended into the ground. The airplane exploded after impact….
Change “Takeoff/unknown” to “Loss of directional control shortly after takeoff.”
2023 SUMMARY: Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2023:
Total reported: 130 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 74 reports
Operation in IMC: 2 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 54 reports
Operation at night: 6 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 6 reports
Fatal accidents: 11 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 26 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 19 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 110 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be35 Bonanza 43 reports
Be36 Bonanza 24 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 15 reports
Be55 Baron 13 reports
Be58 Baron 11 reports
Be95 Travel Air 5 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 57 reports
Operation in IMC: 2 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 52 reports
Operation at night: 5 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 4 reports
Fatal accidents: 11 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 19 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 18 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE (all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 15 reports
Engine failure in flight 5 reports
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be35)
Catastrophic engine failure in flight 1 report (Be36)
Fuel exhaustion 1 report (Be33)
Fuel starvation on final approach 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure on approach/landing 1 report (Be35)
Loss of control 5 reports
Loss of control during initial climb 2 reports (Be35; Be36)
Loss of control in flight 1 report (Be35)
Loss of control in flight/vertical impact 1 report (Be36)
Loss of control on final approach/landing 1 report (Be36)
Miscellaneous 6 reports
Takeoff/unknown 1 report (Be58)
Controlled flight into terrain 1 report (Be35)
Pilot struck by propeller/exited airplane with engine running 1 report (Be33)
Struck airport employee near the runway during landing 1 report (Be36)
Cruise/unknown 1 report (Be36)
OTHER EVENTS 95 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 48 reports
Gear collapse during landing 21 reports (three Be33s; nine Be35s; four Be36s; three Be55s; two Be58s)
Gear up landing 20 reports (two Be33s; eight Be35s; three Be36s; two Be55s; three Be58s; two Be95s)
Gear collapse during takeoff 1 report (Be35)
Gear collapse/mechanical gear failure 1 report (Be36)
Landed with gear partially extended 1 report (Be35)
Gear collapse on landing/electrical failure in flight 1 report (Be33)
Gear up landing following electrical failure 1 report (Be35)
Inadvertent gear retraction during a touch and go 1 report (Be36)
Pilot inadvertently retracted gear during landing roll 1 report (Be35)
Electrical fire in flight/gear collapse during landing 1 report (Be58)
Engine Failure 24 reports
Engine failure in flight 14 reports (Be33; six Be35s; six Be36s; Be55)
Catastrophic engine failure in flight 3 reports (Be33; Be35; Be58)
Engine failure during approach/landing 2 reports (both Be35)
Fuel starvation 2 reports (both Be33s)
Engine failure during/shortly after takeoff 1 report (Be33)
Engine failure during attempted go-around 1 report (Be35)
Catastrophic oil loss: failure of air/oil separator 1 report (Be35)
Precautionary landing in a field/low fuel 1 report (Be95)
Propeller damage in flight 1 report (Be55)
Miscellaneous 12 reports
Bird strike 4 reports (Be35; Be36; two Be55s)
Ground collision during ‘formation’ taxi 2 reports (Be36 and Be35)
Electrical fire in flight 1 report (Be33)
Cockpit fire in flight/off-airport landing 1 report (Be36)
Turbulence encounter en route 1 report (Be58)
Aborted takeoff/runway overrun 1 report (Be55)
Landed long 1 report (Be58)
Blown tire on landing 1 report (Be35)
Loss of control during new autopilot testing 1 report (Be35)
Taxiway excursion/taxi into obstructions 1 report (Be58)
Loss of directional control during takeoff 1 report (Be95)
Impact During Landing 7 reports
Loss of directional control during landing 3 reports (Be33; Be35; Be55)
Struck object/animal during landing 1 report (Be95)
Landed long/runway overrun 1 report (Be55)
Loss of control during landing/strong surface winds 1 report (Be35)
Landing/unknown 1 report (Be35)
Unknown
Crash/unknown 1 report (Be55)
BEECH AERO CLUB Series: 17 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be23 Musketeer/Sundowner 12 reports
Be19 Sport 1 report
Be24 Sierra 2 reports
Be76 Duchess 1 report
Be77 Skipper 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 15 reports
Operation in IMC: 0 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 2 reports
Operation at night: 1 report
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 2 reports
Fatal accidents: 0 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 6 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 1 report
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE (all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 2 reports
Collision with obstacle during initial climb 1 report (Be23)
Loss of directional control during go-around 1 report (Be23)
OTHER EVENTS 15 reports
Engine failure 6 reports
Engine failure immediately after takeoff 2 reports (Be19; Be77)
Engine failure in flight 2 reports (Be23, Be24)
Engine failure during landing 1 report (Be23)
Engine failure during go-around 1 report (Be23)
Loss of directional control during landing 2 reports (both Be23)
Gear collapse during touch and go 1 report (Be76)
Porpoised on landing/propeller strike/gear collapse 1 report (Be23)
Struck by another aircraft while parked and unoccupied 1 report (Be23)
Wing fire during fueling 1 report (Be23)
Blown tire on landing 1 report (Be24)
Hard landing 1 report (Be23)
Control malfunction in flight 1 report (Be23)
MISCELLANEOUS Models: 4 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 2 reports
Operation in IMC: 0 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 2 reports
Operation at night: 0 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 0 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 1 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 0 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE (all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 0 reports
OTHER EVENTS 4 reports
Landed long/runway overrun 2 reports (both Be60s)
Gear collapse during landing 1 report (Be45)
Struck object/animal during landing 1 report (Be50)
Recognize an N-number? Want to check on friends or family that may have been involved in a cited mishap? Click here to find the registered owner. Please accept my sincere personal condolences if you or anyone you know was involved in a mishap. I welcome your comments, suggestions and criticisms.
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