Piston Beechcraft Accidents April 30 through May 6, 2026
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
4/30 2038Z (1438 local Thursday afternoon): A Be36 “experienced a loss of engine power during takeoff” from Rapid City, South Dakota. The pilot successfully “landed in a field 2 miles beyond [the] departure end of [the] runway” with no injuries to the three on board and no further damage to the aircraft. N7089N (E-14) is a 1968 Model 36.
(“Engine failure during/immediately after takeoff”—and from there, a job well done).
5/1 2004Z (1604 local Friday afternoon): A Be23 “experienced engine issues” shortly after takeoff from Bangor, Maine. The pilot “returned to [the] airport” but “ran off the end of the runway.” The two aboard escaped injury despite “substantial” airplane damage. N18516 (M-2344) is a 1981 C23.
(“Engine failure after takeoff/runway overrun on return”; “Substantial damage”)
5/6 1843Z (1343 local Wednesday afternoon): The pilot of a Be35 “made an emergency landing in a field due to engine issues” at Stanton, Minnesota. The solo pilot was unhurt and airplane damage is “minor.” N8981M (D-7339) is a 1964 S35.
(“Engine failure in flight”)
NTSB Preliminary Reports
There are no newly posted piston Beech NTSB preliminary reports this week.
NTSB Final Reports
1/2 B35 stall and collision with trees during takeoff from Ranger Airfield, Texas. More information for this rapidly released NTSB Final Report:
…the pilot reported that he was taking off from a private dirt strip when the accident happened. He said that he was departing to the south and the takeoff was normal until the airplane was above the level of the treetops that bordered the airstrip. Once the airplane reached that altitude, it stopped accelerating and drifted left, the left wing dropped, and the airplane descended into the trees. The pilot stated that he believed he experienced windshear with the wind changing from a quartering headwind to a quartering tailwind after clearing the trees. When asked, the pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The nearest aviation weather reporting station was located at the Stephens County Airport (BKD), Breckenridge, Texas, about 13 nautical miles northwest of the accident and reported wind from 280° at 7 knots about the time of the accident.
2026 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2026
Total reported: 42 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 34 reports
By Model
Be35 Bonanza 12 reports
Be36 Bonanza 9 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 7 reports
Be58 Baron 6 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 21 reports
Operation in IMC: 2 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 11 reports
Operation at night: 1 report
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 6 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 7 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 5 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 6 reports
Loss of control in flight (LOC-I) 3 reports
Loss of control in IMC 1 report (Be36)
Loss of control during an instrument approach in IMC 1 report (Be36)
Loss of control in flight/multiengine instruction 1 report (Be58)
Engine failure 2 reports
Catastrophic engine failure in flight 1 report (Be36)
Partial power loss in cruise/turbocharger failure 1 report (Be36)
Impact during/immediately after takeoff
Takeoff/unknown 1 report (Be33)
OTHER EVENTS 28 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 13 reports
Gear up landing 7 reports (two Be33s; three Be35s; two Be58s)
Gear collapse during landing 5 reports (Be33; Be35; two Be36s; Be58)
Gear collapse during landing/electrical failure in flight 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure 8 reports
Engine failure in flight 5 reports (Be35; three Be33s; Be36)
Engine failure immediately after takeoff 2 reports (Be35; Be36)
Propeller separation in flight 1 report (Be58)
Impact during landing 4 reports
Loss of directional control during landing 2 reports (Be35; Be36)
Runway overrun 1 report (Be58)
Collision with an airplane that pulled on onto runway 1 report (Be35)
Impact during takeoff 2 reports
Stall immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be35)
Takeoff/unknown 1 report (Be35)
Other
Taxi into object/obstruction 1 report (Be35)
BEECH AERO CLUB Series: 7 reports
Skipper, Musketeer, Sundowner, Sierra, Duchess
By Model
Be76 Duchess 3 reports
Be23 Musketeer, Sundowner 2 reports
Be19 Sport 1 report
Be24 Sierra 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 5 reports
Operation in IMC: 0 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 2 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: 4 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 0 reports
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 0 reports
OTHER EVENTS 6 reports
Impact during landing 3 reports
Loss of directional control during landing 1 report (Be23)
Loss of directional control during landing/Simulated single-engine landing 1 report (Be76)
Hard landing 1 report (Be19)
Landing gear related mishaps 2 reports
Gear up landing 1 reports (Be76)
Gear collapse during landing 1 report (Be76)
Engine failure 2 reports
Engine failure in flight/attempted single-engine landing 1 report (Be76)
Engine failure after takeoff/runway overrun on return 1 report (Be23)
MISCELLANEOUS Models: 1 report
Staggerwing, Twin Beech, Twin Bonanza, Duke, Queen Air
By Model
Be60 Duke 1 report
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
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 0 reports
OTHER EVENTS 1 report
Impact during landing 1 report
Collision with wires during landing (Be60)
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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.