Piston Beechcraft Accidents 2/15/2024 through 2/21/2024
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.
©2024 Mastery Flight Training, Inc. All Rights Reserved
THE WEEKLY ACCIDENT UPDATE IS AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCT OF MASTERY FLIGHT TRAINING, INC.
New reports this week
2/14 2312Z (1812 local Wednesday evening): During a dusk flight near Brooksville, Florida, the pilot of a Be35 “declared an emergency due to engine issues” and “landed in a field.” The two aboard were unhurt and airplane damage is “unknown”. N4230B (D-4201) is a 1955 F35.
(“Engine failure in flight”—and what sounds like a good job by the pilot after the engine failure.)
New NTSB reports this week
1/26 Baron 58 inflight hail encounter near DeRidder, Louisiana. Add “IMC” and “Substantial damage”. From the report:
The pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise flight at 11,000 ft mean sea level (msl), near DeRidder, Louisiana, when he asked for and received a new heading from Air Traffic Control (ATC) to avoid weather ahead. While on the new heading the airplane entered instrument conditions and a short time later experienced a strong updraft, heavy rain, hail, and severe turbulence. During the encounter with weather, the airplane suffered substantial damage from hail to the leading edges of both wings, the vertical, and horizontal stabilizers. The pilot diverted to Chennault International Airport (KCWF), Lake Charles, Louisiana, and landed without further incident.
2024 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2024:
Total reported: 19 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 8 reports
Operation in IMC: 1 report
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 11 reports
Operation at night: 5 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 3 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 3 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 3 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series:
13 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be35 Bonanza 5 reports
Be55 Baron 3 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 2 reports
Be58 Baron 2 reports
Be36 Bonanza 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 3 reports
Operation in IMC: 1 report
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 9 reports
Operation at night: 4 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 3 reports
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 3 reports
Loss of Control in Flight (LOC-I)
Stall/spin/Loss of control in flight/Dual instruction 1 report (Be55)
Engine failure
Engine failure during go-around 1 report (Be35)
Impact during landing
Collision with obstacle during landing 1 report (Be55)
OTHER EVENTS 10 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 6 reports
Gear collapse during landing 3 reports (Be33; Be35; Be55)
Gear up landing 1 report (Be35)
Inadvertent gear retraction during landing 1 report (Be58)
Inadvertent gear retraction during taxi 1 report (Be35)
Wheel separation during landing 1 report (Be36)
Engine failure
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be35)
Impact during landing
Runway overrun/door open after liftoff/attempted to land on remaining runway/nose gear collapse 1 report (Be33)
Miscellaneous
Severe turbulence/hail encounter 1 report (Be58)
BEECH AERO CLUB Series:
5 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be23 Musketeer/Sundowner 3 reports
Be24 Sierra 1 report
Be76 Duchess 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 4 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: 1 report
Aircraft “destroyed”: 1 report
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 0 reports
OTHER EVENTS 5 reports
Impact on landing 3 reports
Hard landing/nose gear collapse/destroyed by fire 1 report (Be23)
Loss of directional control during landing/runway excursion 1 report (Be23)
Stall on final approach 1 report (Be23)
Landing gear mishaps 2 reports
Gear collapse during landing 1 report (Be76)
Gear up landing 1 report (Be24)
MISCELLANEOUS Models:
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
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE (all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 0 reports
OTHER EVENTS 1 report
Gear up landing 1 report (Be45)
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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