Piston Beechcraft Accidents 11/18/2023 through 11/22/2023
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.
New reports this week
11/18 0325Z (2035 local Friday evening 11/17/23): During “initial climb” on a night flight from Yuma, Arizona, a Be95 “experienced rudder oscillation that violently shook [the] aircraft causing the windshield to blow off.” The two aboard report no injury despite “substantial” airplane damage. N2024C (TD-198) is a 1959 Model 95).
(“Rudder oscillation/windshield separation”; “Substantial damage”; “Night”—FlightAware reveals the Travel Air climbed to 5500 feet, almost immediately after level-off seven minutes into the flight lost groundspeed briefly and then experienced several airspeed fluctuations during a descent back to Yuma. This is one mishap I’ll try to learn more about.)
11/20 2317Z (1817 local Monday evening): A Be55’s pilot “reported sparks from the front of [the] aircraft on departure” from Punta Gorda, Florida. The pilot “returned and landed” and “sparks [were] observed again. Upon post-flight inspection” the pilot “found a tow bar on the runway that [had been] left attached to the aircraft.” The three aboard were unhurt and airplane damage is “minor”. N13HM (TE-813) is a 1970 E55.
(“Took off with tow bar attached”; “Night”)
New NTSB reports this week
There are no newly posted piston Beech NTSB reports this week.
2023 SUMMARY: Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2023:
Total reported: 132 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 75 reports
Operation in IMC: 2 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 55 reports
Operation at night: 8 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 6 reports
Fatal accidents: 11 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 27 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 19 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 112 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be35 Bonanza 43 reports
Be36 Bonanza 24 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 15 reports
Be55 Baron 14 reports
Be58 Baron 11 reports
Be95 Travel Air 6 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 58 reports
Operation in IMC: 2 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 53 reports
Operation at night: 7 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 4 reports
Fatal accidents: 11 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 20 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 18 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 15 reports
Engine failure in flight 5 reports
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be35)
Catastrophic engine failure in flight 1 report (Be36)
Fuel exhaustion 1 report (Be33)
Fuel starvation on final approach 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure on approach/landing 1 report (Be35)
Loss of control 5 reports
Loss of control during initial climb 2 reports (Be35; Be36)
Loss of control in flight 1 report (Be35)
Loss of control in flight/vertical impact 1 report (Be36)
Loss of control on final approach/landing 1 report (Be36)
Miscellaneous 6 reports
Takeoff/unknown 1 report (Be58)
Controlled flight into terrain 1 report (Be35)
Pilot struck by propeller/exited airplane with engine running 1 report (Be33)
Struck airport employee near the runway during landing 1 report (Be36)
Cruise/unknown 1 report (Be36)
OTHER EVENTS 97 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 48 reports
Gear collapse during landing 21 reports (three Be33s; nine Be35s; four Be36s; three Be55s; two Be58s)
Gear up landing 20 reports (two Be33s; eight Be35s; three Be36s; two Be55s; three Be58s; two Be95s)
Gear collapse during takeoff 1 report (Be35)
Gear collapse/mechanical gear failure 1 report (Be36)
Landed with gear partially extended 1 report (Be35)
Gear collapse on landing/electrical failure in flight 1 report (Be33)
Gear up landing following electrical failure 1 report (Be35)
Inadvertent gear retraction during a touch and go 1 report (Be36)
Pilot inadvertently retracted gear during landing roll 1 report (Be35)
Electrical fire in flight/gear collapse during landing 1 report (Be58)
Engine Failure 24 reports
Engine failure in flight 14 reports (Be33; six Be35s; six Be36s; Be55)
Catastrophic engine failure in flight 3 reports (Be33; Be35; Be58)
Engine failure during approach/landing 2 reports (both Be35)
Fuel starvation 2 reports (both Be33s)
Engine failure during/shortly after takeoff 1 report (Be33)
Engine failure during attempted go-around 1 report (Be35)
Catastrophic oil loss: failure of air/oil separator 1 report (Be35)
Precautionary landing in a field/low fuel 1 report (Be95)
Propeller damage in flight 1 report (Be55)
Miscellaneous 12 reports
Bird strike 4 reports (Be35; Be36; two Be55s)
Ground collision during ‘formation’ taxi 2 reports (Be36 and Be35)
Electrical fire in flight 1 report (Be33)
Cockpit fire in flight/off-airport landing 1 report (Be36)
Turbulence encounter en route 1 report (Be58)
Aborted takeoff/runway overrun 1 report (Be55)
Landed long 1 report (Be58)
Blown tire on landing 1 report (Be35)
Loss of control during new autopilot testing 1 report (Be35)
Taxiway excursion/taxi into obstructions 1 report (Be58)
Loss of directional control during takeoff 1 report (Be95)
Rudder oscillation/windshield separation 1 report (Be95)
Took off with tow bar attached 1 report (Be55)
Impact During Landing 7 reports
Loss of directional control during landing 3 reports (Be33; Be35; Be55)
Struck object/animal during landing 1 report (Be95)
Landed long/runway overrun 1 report (Be55)
Loss of control during landing/strong surface winds 1 report (Be35)
Landing/unknown 1 report (Be35)
Unknown
Crash/unknown 1 report (Be55)
BEECH AERO CLUB Series: 17 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be23 Musketeer/Sundowner 12 reports
Be19 Sport 1 report
Be24 Sierra 2 reports
Be76 Duchess 1 report
Be77 Skipper 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 15 reports
Operation in IMC: 0 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 2 reports
Operation at night: 1 report
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 2 reports
Fatal accidents: 0 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 6 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 1 report
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 2 reports
Collision with obstacle during initial climb 1 report (Be23)
Loss of directional control during go-around 1 report (Be23)
OTHER EVENTS 15 reports
Engine failure 6 reports
Engine failure immediately after takeoff 2 reports (Be19; Be77)
Engine failure in flight 2 reports (Be23, Be24)
Engine failure during landing 1 report (Be23)
Engine failure during go-around 1 report (Be23)
Loss of directional control during landing 2 reports (both Be23)
Gear collapse during touch and go 1 report (Be76)
Porpoised on landing/propeller strike/gear collapse 1 report (Be23)
Struck by another aircraft while parked and unoccupied 1 report (Be23)
Wing fire during fueling 1 report (Be23)
Blown tire on landing 1 report (Be24)
Hard landing 1 report (Be23)
Control malfunction in flight 1 report (Be23)
MISCELLANEOUS Models: 4 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 2 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: 1 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 4 reports
Landed long/runway overrun 2 reports (both Be60s)
Gear collapse during landing 1 report (Be45)
Struck object/animal during landing 1 report (Be50)
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.
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