Piston Beechcraft Accidents May 21 through June 11, 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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From Unofficial Sources
4/21 12:10 local time Tuesday afternoon: The Aviation Safety Network reports:
A Beechcraft 95-B55 Baron experienced a dual engine failure and diverted to Xoxocotlan International Airport (OAX/MMOX), Santa Cruz Xoxocotlá, Oaxaca. During the approach also problems with its landing gear occurred and the aircraft performed a belly landing at runway 01. One of the six occupants was injured and the aircraft received minor damage. XB-RTO (TC-1488) is a 1973 B55 Baron.
(“Dual engine failure/multiengine airplane”—almost certainly a fuel starvation or exhaustion event. Fuel load may have been kept low given the number of occupants. Video shows the rather high-speed touchdown).
6/4 1114 local time Thursday morning: the Aviation Safety Network reports:
A Beechcraft G36 Bonanza crashed under unknown circumstances when approaching Medulin Sports Airfield, Medulin, Istria. The four occupants perished and the aircraft was destroyed.
Since 2014, the Medulin Sports Airfield is not an officially recognized airfield anymore. It is not mentioned in the Croation AIP, nor VFR chart.
Aviation weather 6 miles from the accident site was reported to be few clouds at 3500, visibility unlimited with a 3-knot surface wind.
D-ENTT (E-4074) was a 2015 G36.
(“Approach/unknown”; “Fatal”; “Airplane destroyed”)
New Reports This Week
5/11 1430 local time Monday afternoon: The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) reports:
The ATSB is investigating a flight control issue involving a Beech Aircraft Corp 35-B33, registered VH-NEW, at Griffith Airport, New South Wales, on 11 May 2026.
It was reported that, during the initial climb the instructor and student on board the aircraft detected a reduction of aileron and elevator effectiveness. The student held the control yoke stable while the instructor controlled the aircraft with elevator and rudder inputs and conducted a successful return to Griffith Airport. An engineering inspection later revealed a bolt had been liberated from the control torque link due to a missing split pin.
There were no injuries and “nil” aircraft damage. VH-NEW (CD-615) is a 1963 35-B33.
(“Control failure in flight”—and a great job of crew coordination and resourcefulness to get back on the ground safely).
6/1 2100Z (1500 local Monday afternoon): A Be33’s nose gear collapsed during a touch-and-go landing at La Porte, Indiana. The solo pilot was unhurt and airplane damage is “unknown.” N8586R (CE-540) is a 1974 F33A.
(“Gear collapse during touch-and-go”)
6/4 1420Z (0920 local Thursday morning): A Be36, “attempting to depart” at Danbury, Connecticut, “lost lift and went off the end of the runway and through a fence.” The solo pilot escaped injury and airplane damage is “unknown.” N726EA (E-3943) is a 2010 G36.
(“Stall during/immediately after takeoff”)
6/4 1500Z (0900 local Thursday morning): A Be58 “landed and [its] nose gear collapsed” at Livingston, Tennessee. The pilot, alone in the Baron, wasn’t hurt; airplane damage is “unknown.” N712JZ (TH-671) is a 1975 Baron 58.
(“Gear collapse during landing”)
6/6 1319Z (0819 local Saturday morning): A Be19 “made an emergency landing” on a highway “due to engine issues” at Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. The student and instructor on board were uninjured and the extent of damage is “unknown.” N24597 (MB-549) is a 1972 B19 Sport.
(“Engine failure in flight”—local news photos suggest there was no damage to the airplane at all in the forced landing. Well done.)
6/6 1540Z (0940 local Saturday morning): A Be36 “veered off the runway due to a blown tire” during landing at Gary, Indiana. The two aboard were unhurt; airplane damage is “unknown.” N747G (E-3203) is a 1998 A36.
(“Loss of directional control during landing/blown tire”)
NTSB Preliminary Reports
5/1 C23 Sundowner instructional runway overrun at Bangor, Maine. This appears to be a classic case of a chain of events leading to an accident. From the report:
A Beechcraft C23 was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bangor, Maine. The private pilot and flight instructor were uninjured.
According to the CFI, the purpose of the flight was to provide instruction to the private pilot in preparation for his commercial certificate. The CFI reported that the private pilot completed the preflight inspection with no discrepancies noted. After engine start, there was some momentary engine roughness; however, it did not last long, and the pilots continued with the lesson. Taxi, pretakeoff checks and departure from runway 33 at Bangor International Airport (BGR), Bangor, Maine, were normal.
The CFI reported that during the initial climb, about 200 ft above ground level, the pilot’s door “popped open.” The CFI contacted air traffic control (ATC) and advised that they would need to return to land to secure the door. After returning to the airport and securing the door, they taxied back to the runway for departure. The CFI continued that, after receiving a takeoff clearance, the pilot taxied into position, applied full power, and they departed from runway 33.
About 700-800 ft above mean sea level, they made a right turn to a heading of 020° and leveled the wings. The airplane subsequently began to vibrate and run rough. They elected to return to BGR. During the return, the CFI reported that the engine roughness intensified, followed by a total loss of engine power. The CFI assumed control of the airplane, declared an emergency to ATC, and maneuvered toward the runway.
While overflying the runway, the CFI realized they were too high and added flaps and slipped the airplane in an effort to lose altitude; however, the airplane floated down the runway. After touchdown, insufficient runway remained to stop. The airplane overran the runway, entered safety area, and impacted an embankment, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage.
Weather was 6000 broken, visibility 10 miles, with winds from 310° at 7 gusting to 19 knots.
2026 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2026
Total reported: 51 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 42 reports
Bonanza, Debonair, Baron, Travel Air
By Model
Be35 Bonanza 12 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 12 reports
Be36 Bonanza 11 reports
Be58 Baron 7 reports
Be55 Baron 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 27 reports
Operation in IMC: 2 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 13 reports
Operation at night: 1 report
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 7 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 7 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 6 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 7 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)
Impact during visual approach and landing
Approach/unknown 1 report (Be36)
OTHER EVENTS 35 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 16 reports
Gear up landing 8 reports (three Be33s; three Be35s; two Be58s)
Gear collapse during landing 6 reports (Be33; Be35; two Be36s; two Be58s)
Gear collapse during landing/electrical failure in flight 1 report (Be35)
Gear collapse during touch-and-go 1 report (Be33)
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)
Dual engine failure/multiengine airplane 1 report (Be55)
Impact during landing 5 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)
Loss of directional control during landing/blown tire 1 report (Be36)
Impact during takeoff 3 reports
Stall during/immediately after takeoff 2 reports (Be35, Be36)
Takeoff/unknown 1 report (Be35)
Other
Taxi into object/obstruction 1 report (Be35)
Control failure in flight 1 report (Be33)
BEECH AERO CLUB Series: 8 reports
Skipper, Musketeer, Sundowner, Sierra, Duchess
By Model
Be76 Duchess 3 reports
Be19 Sport 2 reports
Be23 Musketeer, Sundowner 2 reports
Be24 Sierra 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 7 reports
Operation in IMC: 0 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 1 report
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 7 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)
Engine failure 3 reports
Engine failure in flight/attempted single-engine landing 1 report (Be76)
Engine failure after takeoff/runway overrun on return 1 report (Be23)
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be19)
Landing gear related mishaps 2 reports
Gear up landing 1 reports (Be76)
Gear collapse during landing 1 report (Be76)
MISCELLANEOUS Models: 1 report
Staggerwing, Twin Beech, Twin Bonanza, Duke, Queen Air, T-34
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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Please accept my sincere personal condolences if you or anyone you know was involved in a mishap. I welcome your comments, suggestions and criticisms.
Piston Beechcraft Accidents May 21 through June 11, 2026
Piston Beechcraft Accidents May 21 through June 11, 2026