Piston Beechcraft Accidents 9/5/2024 through 9/11/2024
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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New reports this week
9/7 1530Z (0930 local Saturday morning): A Be58 “crashed into the driveway of a resident [sic] due to overshooting the runway” at Cedar Ridge, near Griffin, Georgia. The solo pilot was “unknown” injuries and the Baron “unknown” damage. N5096R (TH-1996) was a 2001 Baron 58.
(“Landed long”; “Airplane destroyed” [on the basis of a knowledgeable witness report]—witnesses report the pilot was “fast” and “high” for his first attempt at landing on the 3000 foot long, 40-foot-wide upsloping runway surrounded by trees and residences. The pilot went around and made a second attempt, in which he reportedly was “still 40 feet in the air” at the runway midpoint. The pilot then appears to have tried to “force” the airplane onto the runway, according to witnesses. The Baron went off the end of the runway, across a highway and onto the driveway of a residence across the road; the landing gear broke off and the airplane came to rest alongside the driveway pointed back toward the airport—all unofficial information on the basis of local witnesses. See In the Slot in my September 5, 2024 FLYING LESSONS Weekly).
9/8 1803Z (1403 local Sunday afternoon): A Be58 was taking off from Raleigh-Durham Airport, North Carolina, when its landing gear collapsed during the takeoff roll. Both persons aboard the Baron escaped injury and the extent of airplane damage is “unknown.” N6037M (TH-1022) is a 1979 Baron 58.
(“Gear collapse during takeoff”—an event sometimes the result of pilot error, when the pilot or a front-seat passenger or instructor inadvertently retracts the gear while on the runway. The accident airplane is reportedly used for training and sometimes this happens in the rush of an [in my opinion ill-advised] touch-and-go; other times it happens in a poorly managed simulated engine failure and takeoff abort. Gear collapse in Beech airplanes is also frequently a result of improperly rigged landing gear, something not checked annually as Beech recommends).
9/10 1600Z (1100 local Tuesday morning): A Be36 landed gear up at Amarillo, Texas. The solo pilot escaped injury and the extent of airplane damage is “unknown.” N6931T (E-2167) is a 1984 A36.
(“Gear up landing”)
9/11 0200Z (1900 local Tuesday evening 9/10/24): A Be33 landed gear up at Fallbrook, California. The solo pilot was unhurt and damage is “unknown.” N9782Y (CD-665) is a 1963 B33.
(“Gear up landing”)
New NTSB reports this week
There are no newly posted piston Beech NTSB reports this week.
2024 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2024
Total reported: 100 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 45 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): 1 report
Fatal accidents: 13 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 23 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 18 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 80 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be35 Bonanza 25 reports
Be36 Bonanza 17 reports
Be55 Baron 17 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 15 reports
Be58 Baron 9 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 37 reports
Operation in IMC: 3 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 39 reports
Operation at night: 5 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 12 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 15 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 16 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 13 reports
Loss of Control in Flight (LOC-I) 4 reports
Stall/spin/Loss of control in flight/Dual instruction 1 report (Be55)
Loss of control in flight 1 report (Be55)
Inflight breakup 2 reports (Be35; Be58)
Impact during landing 2 reports
Collision with obstacle during landing 1 report (Be55)
Landed short/Collided with vehicle on ground 1 report (Be55)
Inflight fire
Fire in flight during go-around 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure 2 reports
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure immediately after takeoff/ attempt to return to runway 1 report (Be36)
Impact during takeoff 2 reports
Takeoff/unknown/attempt to return to runway 1 report (Be36)
Loss of directional control during takeoff 1 report (Be33)
Controlled Flight into Terrain
Controlled Flight into Terrain/Probable VFR flight into IMC 1 report (Be35)
OTHER EVENTS 68 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 34 reports
Gear up landing 16 reports (Be23/24, six Be35s; two Be33s; three Be36s; two Be55s; two Be58s)
Gear collapse during landing 9 reports (two Be33s; Be35; Be36; five Be55s)
Gear up landing after electrical failure 2 reports (Be33/Be36)
Inadvertent gear retraction during landing 1 report (Be58)
Inadvertent gear retraction during taxi 1 report (Be35)
Wheel separation during landing 1 report (Be36)
Gear collapse during landing/Post-crash fire 1 report (Be36)
Inadvertent gear retraction on the ground/touch and go 1 report (Be35)
Gear collapse during takeoff 1 report (Be58)
Engine failure 14 reports
Engine failure in flight 5 reports (two Be33s; two Be35s; Be36)
Engine failure during takeoff/overran runaway 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure during takeoff/loss of directional control on runway 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure/oil pressure loss in flight/off-airport landing 1 report (Be36)
Engine failure in the traffic pattern 1 report (Be33)
Engine failure immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be36)
Catastrophic engine failure in flight 1 report (Be55)
Partial power loss immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be36)
Engine failure in the pattern/short final/landed on highway 1 report (Be35)
Impact during landing 10 reports
Hard landing 3 reports (two Be35s; Be55)
Loss of directional control during landing 2 reports (Be33; Be35)
Runway overrun/door open after liftoff/attempted to land on remaining runway/nose gear collapse 1 report (Be33)
Propeller strike/damage to both wings during landing 1 report (Be35)
Loss of control during landing/airplane flipped upside down 1 report (Be55)
Porpoised on landing 1 report (Be33)
Landed long 1 report (Be58)
Impact during takeoff 4 reports
Runway overrun/aborted takeoff 1 report (Be58)
Loss of directional control during takeoff/crosswinds 1 report (Be35)
Collision with terrain on takeoff/wind shear 1 report (Be36)
Takeoff/unknown 1 report (Be35)
Miscellaneous
Bird strike 2 reports (Be33; Be36)
Severe turbulence/hail encounter 1 report (Be58)
Taxiway excursion at night 1 report (Be36)
Cowling came off in flight 1 report (Be36)
Taxi into obstacle/aircraft 1 report (Be33)
Windshield separation during pressurized flight 1 report (Be58)
BEECH AERO CLUB Series: 13 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be23 Musketeer/Sundowner 6 reports
Be24 Sierra 4 reports
Be76 Duchess 2 reports
Be19 Sport 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 6 reports
Operation in IMC: 0 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 7 reports
Operation at night: 0 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 1 report
Fatal accidents: 0 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 5 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 1 report
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 1 report
Engine failure immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be23)
OTHER EVENTS 12 reports
Impact on landing 4 reports
Loss of directional control during landing/runway excursion 2 reports (Be23; Be23-24)
Hard landing/nose gear collapse/destroyed by fire 1 report (Be23)
Loss of directional control during attempted go-around 1 report (Be23)
Landing gear mishaps 4 reports
Gear collapse during landing 1 report (Be76)
Landing gear mechanical malfunction 1 report (Be24)
Gear up landing 1 report (Be24)
Gear collapse during takeoff 1 report (Be76)
Engine failure 2 reports
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be19)
Engine failure on final approach 1 report (Be23)
Impact on takeoff 1 report
Engine failure during/immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be24)
MISCELLANEOUS Models: 9 reports
Be45 (T-34) Mentor 3 reports
Be60 Duke 3 reports
Be17 Staggerwing 2 reports
Be18 Twin Beech 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 5 reports
Operation in IMC: 0 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 4 reports
Operation at night: 0 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 2 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 2 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 2 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 1 report
Loss of control while attempting a single-engine landing 1 report (Be60)
OTHER EVENTS 7 reports
Gear up landing 4 reports (two Be45s; two Be60s)
Asymmetric gear extension/inflight system failure 1 report (Be60)
Landed with gear partly extended 1 report (Be17)
Loss of directional control during landing/tailwheel 1 report (Be18)
Precautionary landing/engine issues 1 report (Be17)
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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