Piston Beechcraft Accidents January 31 – February 5, 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.
©2025 Mastery Flight Training, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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THE WEEKLY ACCIDENT UPDATE IS AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCT OF MASTERY FLIGHT TRAINING, INC.
The 2024 Year-End Report is unchanged from last week.
New reports this week
2/1 2301Z (1301 Saturday afternoon): A Be58 overran the runway during landing at Palo Alto, California, and came to rest in a salt pond. The two aboard were not injured; airplane damage is “unknown.” N586RF (TH-2148) is a 2006 G58.
(“Runway overrun”; “Substantial damage”; “IMC” [more now]: The Aviation Safety Network adds:
The aircraft was landing on runway 13 and ended up in the marsh of Baylands Nature Preserve.
Weather:
METAR KPAO 012147Z 18005KT 3SM DZ BKN017 16/14 A3008
METAR KPAO 012347Z 20004G15KT 4SM DZ BKN014 17/14 A3008
The pilot flew the instrument approach to Runway 31 and circled to land on Runway 13. The short runway at Palo Alto, 2400 feet long, is marginal for a Baron, even more so since the runway was wet.)
2/2 1927Z (1427 Sunday afternoon): A Be33’s “nose wheel came off” during landing at St. Petersburg, Florida. The two aboard were unhurt and airplane damage is “unknown.” N484D (CE-1699) is a 1992.
(“Nose wheel separation during landing”)
2/2 2110Z (1510 local Sunday afternoon): A Be35’s nose gear collapsed during landing at Wahoo, Nebraska. The solo pilot reports no injury and airplane damage is “unknown.” N5017C (D-2279) is a 1950 B35.
(“Gear collapse during landing”)
2/5 0000Z (1700 local Tuesday afternoon 2/1): Departing from Twin Falls, Idaho, a Be36 “experienced engine issues” and its pilot “landed in a field,” preventing injury to thew two aboard. The extent of damage is as yet “unknown.” N1230Z (E-2875) is a 1994 A36.
(“Engine failure immediately after takeoff”)
New NTSB reports this week
1/25 fatal V35B engine failure at Charlottesville, Virginia. The preliminary report is not conclusive, of course, but it suggests possible crankshaft bearing failure.
2025 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2025
Total reported: 12 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 5 reports
Operation in IMC: 2 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 5 reports
Operation at night: 2 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 1 report
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 2 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 2 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 11 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be36 Bonanza 4 reports
Be35 Bonanza 3 reports
Be58 Baron 2 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 1 report
Be95 Travel Air. 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 4 reports
Operation in IMC: 2 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 5 reports
Operation at night: 2 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 1 report
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
Engine failure
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be35)
OTHER EVENTS 10 reports
Engine failure
Engine failure in flight 2 reports (Be35; Be36)
Engine failure during/immediately after takeoff 2 reports (both Be36s)
Landing gear related mishaps
Nose gear collapse during landing 3 reports (Be35; Be58; Be95)
Nose wheel separation during landing 1 report (Be33)
Impact during landing
Runway overrun 1 report (Be58)
Miscellaneous
Taxi into object 1 report (Be36)
MISCELLANEOUS Models: 1 report
Be45 Mentor/T-34 1 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 1 report
Operation in IMC: 0 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 0 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: 0 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 1 report
Landing gear related mishaps
Gear up landing 1 report (Be45)
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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