Piston Beechcraft Accidents 9/12/2024 through 9/25/2024
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
9/12 1419Z (0919 local Thursday morning): The sole occupant of a Be36 died, and the Bonanza incurred “unknown” damage, when the aircraft “crashed under unknown circumstances on a golf course” followed by a “post-crash fire,” at Lafayette, Louisiana. N643RS (E-3849) was a 2008 G36.
(“Takeoff/unknown”; “Fatal”; “Airplane destroyed”—on the basis of usually reliable additional details from the Aviation Safety Network, which reports:
A Beechcraft G36 Bonanza impacted golf course terrain shortly after takeoff from runway 4R (8000 x 150 ft) at Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT/KLFT), Lafayette, Louisiana. The sole pilot perished and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Local news reports the pilot, owner of a construction company to which the Bonanza was registered, was age 73).
9/15 1847Z (1347 local Sunday afternoon): A Be55 “experienced electrical issues” and “its right main gear was not fully extended for landing” at Stephenville, Texas. The pilot and two passengers were not hurt and airplane damage is “minor.” N315G (TC-907) is a 1965 95-B55.
(“Gear collapse/partial gear extension/electrical failure in flight”)
9/19 13450Z (0940 local Thursday morning): A Be33’s nose gear collapsed during landing at Washington Court House, Ohio. The two aboard were unhurt and airplane damage is “unknown.” N6264B (CE-992) is a 1982 F33A.
(“Gear collapse during landing”)
9/20 1930Z (1230 local Friday afternoon): A Be35 was in the run-up area at Watsonville, California, when it was struck by a taxing Yak 50. The solo pilot of the Bonanza was not hurt and airplane damage is “minor.” N6027F (D-7985) is a 1965 S35.
(“Struck by taxiing aircraft”)
9/22 1600Z (1200 local Sunday noon): A Be35 “landed and veered off [the] runway, striking a parked aircraft” at Madisonville, Tennessee. The two aboard the Bonanza were unhurt and airplane damage is “unknown.” N707CH (D-5294) is a 1957 H35.
(“Loss of directional control during landing”)
9/22 1612Z (1312 local Sunday afternoon): A Be55’s gear collapsed during landing at Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands. All three aboard were unhurt and airplane damage is “unknown.” N5713V (TE-98) is a 1966 C55.
(“Gear collapse during 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: 106 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 48 reports
Operation in IMC: 2 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 57 reports
Operation at night: 6 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 1 report
Fatal accidents: 14 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 23 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 19 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 86 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be35 Bonanza 27 reports
Be55 Baron 19 reports
Be36 Bonanza 18 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 16 reports
Be58 Baron 9 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 40 reports
Operation in IMC: 3 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 42 reports
Operation at night: 5 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 13 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 15 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 17 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 14 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 takeoff 3 reports
Takeoff/unknown/attempt to return to runway 1 report (Be36)
Loss of directional control during takeoff 1 report (Be33)
Takeoff/unknown 1 report (Be36)
Impact during landing 2 reports
Collision with obstacle during landing 1 report (Be55)
Landed short/Collided with vehicle on ground 1 report (Be55)
Engine failure 2 reports
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure immediately after takeoff/ attempt to return to runway 1 report (Be36)
Controlled Flight into Terrain
Controlled Flight into Terrain/Probable VFR flight into IMC 1 report (Be35)
Inflight fire
Fire in flight during go-around 1 report (Be35)
OTHER EVENTS 73 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 37 reports
Gear up landing 16 reports (Be23/24, six Be35s; two Be33s; three Be36s; two Be55s; two Be58s)
Gear collapse during landing 11 reports (three Be33s; Be35; Be36; six Be55s)
Gear up landing after electrical failure 2 reports (Be33; Be36)
Gear collapse/partial gear extension/electrical failure in flight 1 report (Be55)
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 11 reports
Hard landing 3 reports (two Be35s; Be55)
Loss of directional control during landing 3 reports (Be33; two Be35s)
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)
Struck by taxiing aircraft 1 report (Be35)
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? 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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