Year-End Report Version 1 as of January 8, 2025
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.
From unofficial sources
12/23 (time not reported): A reader sent a photo of a Be36 that had an apparent gear up landing at Dalhart, Texas. Damage appears to be minor and there are no reports of injuries. Notably, the photo shows the flaps were fully retracted as was the landing gear. Weather appears to be clear with no restriction to visibility. N62GM (E-1713) is a 1980 A36.
(“Gear up landing”—unless we hear otherwise)
New reports this week
12/31 2219Z (1419 local Tuesday afternoon): A Be33 landed gear up at Merced, California. The solo pilot was unhurt and airplane damage is “minor.” N2FK (CE-834) is a 1978 F33A.
(“Gear up landing”)
New NTSB reports this week
12/19 fatal A36TC partial power loss from cruise flight near East Aurora, New York. From the report:
About 1 hour and 20 minutes into the flight, while cruising at 12,500 ft, the pilot declared an emergency, reporting “very low power on my engine” and requesting to remain as high as possible.
Air traffic control initially directed the pilot to Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF), Buffalo, New York, and subsequently provided vectors to Buffalo Airfield (9G0). The pilot reported that while the engine was still producing power, the airplane was no longer able to maintain altitude. He stated he did not think the airplane could reach either airport, and opted for an off-airport landing. Air traffic control provided vectors toward a freeway, but the pilot indicated he would attempt a landing in a field. Radar contact was lost shortly afterward, near the accident site.
Weather near the crash site was 4900 broken, surface visibility 10 miles, with a surface temperature of 0°C.
2024 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2024
Total reported: 141 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 67 reports
Operation in IMC: 4 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 72 reports
Operation at night: 11 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 2 reports
Fatal accidents: 19 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 29 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 25 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 117 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be35 Bonanza 32 reports
Be36 Bonanza 26 reports
Be55 Baron 24 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 20 reports
Be58 Baron 14 reports
Be95 Travel Air 4 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 55 reports
Operation in IMC: 5 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 56 reports
Operation at night: 8 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 1 report
Fatal accidents: 18 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 21 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 22 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 20 reports
Loss of Control in Flight (LOC-I) 6 reports
Loss of control in flight 2 reports (both Be55s)
Inflight breakup 2 reports (Be35; Be58)
Stall/spin/Loss of control in flight/dual instruction 1 report (Be55)
Stall during an attempted go-around 1 report (Be36)
Loss of control in flight/trim issue 1 report (Be58)
Impact during takeoff 3 reports
Takeoff/unknown 1 report (Be36)
Takeoff/unknown/attempt to return to runway 1 report (Be36)
Loss of directional control during takeoff 1 report (Be33)
Engine failure 3 reports
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure immediately after takeoff/ attempt to return to runway 1 report (Be36)
Partial power loss in flight 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)
Controlled Flight into Terrain 2 reports
Controlled Flight into Terrain/Probable VFR flight into IMC 1 report (Be35)
Controlled Flight into Terrain/Descended level into terrain/Night takeoff 1 report (Be55)
Inflight fire
Fire in flight during go-around 1 report (Be35)
Crash/unknown
Crash in cruise flight under unknown circumstances 1 report (Be33)
OTHER EVENTS 98 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 51 reports
Gear up landing 25 reports (eight Be35s; three Be33s; six Be36s; three Be55s; four Be58s; Be95)
Gear collapse during landing 13 reports (four Be33s; Be35; Be36; six Be55s; Be95)
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)
Inadvertent gear retraction during takeoff 1 report (Be36)
Gear collapse during takeoff 1 report (Be58)
Gear collapse on landing after gear retraction problem 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure 17 reports
Engine failure in flight 7 reports (two Be33s; three Be35s; Be36; Be95)
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 immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be58)
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)
Fuel starvation 1 report (Be33)
Impact during landing 14 reports
Loss of directional control during landing 4 reports (Be33; two Be35s; Be55)
Hard landing 4 reports (two Be35s; Be55; Be58)
Struck object/animal during landing 2 reports (Be36; Be95)
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)
Taxiway excursion at night 2 reports (Be35; Be36)
Severe turbulence/hail encounter 1 report (Be58)
Cowling came off in flight 1 report (Be36)
Taxi into obstacle/aircraft 1 report (Be33)
Struck by taxiing aircraft 1 report (Be35)
Struck by vehicle on the ground 1 report (Be55)
Windshield separation during pressurized flight 1 report (Be58)
Precautionary landing/fuel cap open 1 report (Be36)
BEECH AERO CLUB Series: 15 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be23 Musketeer/Sundowner 6 reports
Be24 Sierra 4 reports
Be76 Duchess 4 reports
Be19 Sport 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 7 reports
Operation in IMC: 0 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 8 reports
Operation at night: 1 report
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 1 report
Fatal accidents: 0 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 5 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 2 reports
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 14 reports
Landing gear mishaps 6 reports
Gear up landing 2 reports (Be24; Be76)
Gear collapse during landing 2 reports (Be24; Be76)
Landing gear mechanical malfunction 1 report (Be24)
Gear collapse during takeoff 1 report (Be76)
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)
Engine failure 3 reports
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be19)
Engine failure on final approach 1 report (Be23)
Fuel exhaustion 1 report (Be76)
Impact on takeoff 1 report
Engine failure during/immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be24)
MISCELLANEOUS Models: 11 reports
Be60 Duke 4 reports
Be45 (T-34) Mentor 3 reports
Be17 Staggerwing 2 reports
Be18 Twin Beech 1 report
Be50 Twin Bonanza 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 6 reports
Operation in IMC: 0 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 5 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 10 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)
Gear collapse during landing 1 report (Be50)
Loss of directional control during landing/tailwheel 1 report (Be18)
Precautionary landing/engine issues 1 report (Be17)
Bird strike 1 report (Be60)
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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