Piston Beechcraft Accidents July 17 – July 30, 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
“Beechcraft” is a registered trademark of Textron Aviation, Inc.
THE WEEKLY ACCIDENT UPDATE IS AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCT OF MASTERY FLIGHT TRAINING, INC.
New reports this week
Piston Beechcraft Accidents July 17 – July 30, 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
“Beechcraft” is a registered trademark of Textron Aviation, Inc.
THE WEEKLY ACCIDENT UPDATE IS AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCT OF MASTERY FLIGHT TRAINING, INC.
New reports this week
7/16 1902Z (1402 local Wednesday afternoon): While enroute, a Be35 “experienced engine issues” and its pilot “made a forced landing in a field” at Sylacauga, Alabama. The Bonanza “flipped over,” leaving the solo pilot with “minor” injuries and the airplane “unknown” damage. N5353E (D-5856) was a K35.
(“Engine failure in flight”: “Airplane destroyed”—the Aviation Safety Network provides more information:
A Beechcraft K35 Bonanza, N5353E, sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees and terrain while attempting an emergency diversion to runway 9 at Merkel Field Sylacauga Municipal Airport (KSCD), Sylacauga, Alabama. The pilot received unspecified injuries.
Local news reports the Bonanza landed in a “heavily wooded area” and includes photos of the airplane in pieces, inverted between trees with the landing gear down—with gear position likely not playing a part in the airplane flipping over in this case).
7/18 2343Z (1843 local Friday evening): A Be55 with “apparent electrical issues squawked 7600” (communication failure) shortly after departure off 7F3, Bridgeport, Texas. Radar data showed altitude fluctuations of +1500 feet. The pilot diverted to KXBP airport and landed gear up. All three aboard were unhurt and airplane damage is “unknown.” N4801J (TE-244) is a 1966 C55.
(“Gear up landing/electrical failure”—see many past comments about the need to manually extend the landing gear following any extension with less than full system voltage, i.e., when operating on battery power alone, and the need to ensure the gear is turned fully to the “down” stop, not just “approximately 50 turns” as stated in the Pilot’s Operating Handbook).
7/22 1950Z (1550 local Tuesday afternoon): A Be33’s “engine failed just after departure” from Washington Court House, Ohio. The Bonanza “landed in a field” with no injury to the two aboard and “unknown” airplane damage. N6264B (CE-992) is a 1982 F33A.
(“Engine failure during/immediately after takeoff”)
7/23 0006Z (1706 local Tuesday afternoon 7/22/25): A Be35 “landed short of the runway due to engine issues” at Astoria, Oregon. Both persons on board escaped unhurt and airplane damage is “unknown.” N3785Q (D-8413) is a 1967 V35.
(“Engine failure during approach/landing”)
7/25 2347Z (1947 local Friday evening): The pilot of a Be23 “lost control on departure and veered off the end of the runway, damaging the landing gear, prop and right wing” at Willmantic, Connecticut. The two aboard were unhurt; airplane damage is “unknown.” N469JS (MA-23) is a 1966 A23-24.
(“Loss of directional control during takeoff”)
7/26 1239Z (0539 local Saturday morning): Three aboard a Be55 died and the Baron was “destroyed” when it “crashed under unknown circumstances” in the Pacific Ocean off Pacific Grove, California. N8769R (TC-1790) was a 1974 B55.
(“Crash/unknown”; “Fatal”; “Airplane destroyed”—online sources show the airplane was maneuvering for a visual landing when it descended rapidly into the water).
New NTSB reports this week
6/29 B55 apparent fuel starvation during takeoff at Mount Dora, Florida.
7/06 F35 Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) during climbout at Angel Fire, New Mexico.
2025 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2025
Total reported: 77 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 40 reports
Operation in IMC: 4 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 34 reports
Operation at night: 5 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 4 reports
Fatal accidents: 8 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 13 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 16 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 67 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be36 Bonanza 22 reports
Be35 Bonanza 18 reports
Be55 Baron 12 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 6 reports
Be58 Baron 6 reports
Be95 Travel Air 3 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 31 reports
Operation in IMC: 4 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 31 reports
Operation at night: 4 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 4 reports
Fatal accidents: 8 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 10 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 16 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 12 reports
Engine failure 6 reports
Engine failure in flight/oil loss 2 reports (both Be36s)
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be36)
Fuel starvation 1 report (Be55)
Partial power loss/off-airport landing 1 report (Be36)
Impact during/immediately after takeoff 2 reports
Loss of control/IFR departure 1 report (Be36)
Loss of control in flight/door open after takeoff 1 report (Be55)
Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) 2 reports
Controlled Flight into Terrain/thunderstorms 1 report (Be58)
Controlled flight into terrain/mountains 1 report (Be35)
Impact during landing
Loss of directional control/visual landing 1 report (Be55)
Takeoff/unknown 1 report (Be35)
OTHER EVENTS 55 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 23 reports
Gear collapse during landing 12 reports (Be33; two Be36s; two Be55s; two Be58s; Be95)
Gear up landing 9 reports (three Be35s; Be33; four Be36s; Be58)
Nose wheel separation during landing 1 report (Be33)
Inadvertent gear retraction on the ground/touch and go 1 report (Be35)
Gear up landing/mechanical failure 1 report (Be95)
Gear collapse during takeoff 1 report (Be55)
Gear up landing/electrical failure 1 report (Be55)
Engine failure 17 reports
Engine failure in flight 6 reports (Be33; four Be35s; Be36)
Engine failure during/immediately after takeoff 4 reports (Be33; two Be36s; Be55)
Engine failure shortly after takeoff/catastrophic failure 1 report (Be36)
Partial power loss immediately after takeoff
Dual partial power loss/off-airport landing 1 report (Be58)
Engine failure in flight/oil loss 1 report (Be36)
Propeller separation in flight 1 report (Be55)
Engine failure during landing 1 report (Be36)
Engine failure during approach/landing 1 report (Be35)
Impact during landing 4 reports
Runway overrun 1 report (Be58)
Landed short 1 report (Be36)
Loss of directional control during landing 1 report (Be95)
Propeller strike during landing 1 report (Be55)
Impact during takeoff 3 reports
Aborted takeoff/runway overrun 1 report (Be55)
Loss of directional control during takeoff/contaminated runway 1 report (Be35)
Collision with obstacles during takeoff 1 report (Be35)
Miscellaneous
Taxi into object 1 report (Be36)
Door open after takeoff/descent into terrain 1 report (Be36)
Bird strike 1 report (Be55)
Taxi into object/other aircraft 1 report (Be36)
Takeoff with tow bar attached 1 report (Be35)
BEECH AERO CLUB Series: 10 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be19 Sport 3 reports
Be76 Duchess 2 reports
Be24 Sierra 2 reports
Be23 Musketeer/Sundowner 2 reports
Be77 Skipper 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 7 reports
Operation in IMC: 0 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 3 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: 3 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 10 reports
Impact during landing 4 reports
Loss of directional control during landing 3 reports (two Be19s; Be77)
Hard landing 1 report (Be76)
Engine failure 3 reports
Engine failure during/immediately after takeoff 2 reports (Be19; Be24)
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be24)
Landing gear related mishaps
Gear up landing 1 report (Be76)
Impact during takeoff
Loss of directional control during takeoff 1 report (Be23)
Unknown cause
Off-airport landing/reasons unknown 1 report (Be23)
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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