Piston Beechcraft Accidents August 1 – August 12, 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.
©2026 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.
Pursue Mastery of Flight
From Unofficial Sources
8/6 1545Z (1045 local time Thursday morning): Two aboard a Be35 perished, and the Bonanza was “destroyed,” when the airplane “impacted wooded terrain under unknown circumstances shortly after takeoff” from a fuel stop at Bogalusa, Louisiana. Weather was VMC. N5409D (D-4912) was a 1957 H35.
(“Takeoff/unknown”; “Fatal”; Airplane destroyed”)
8/7 (time not reported): A Be35’s pilot “made a successful emergency landing on the eastbound lanes of State Highway 71 just west of La Grange [Texas], after losing power at 7500 feet. The pilot attempted to reach Fayette Regional Air Center but safely touched down on the highway and pulled onto the should with no injuries and minor structural damage.” N8389D (D-5530) is a 1958 J35.
(“Engine failure in flight”—and from engine failure to touchdown, well done)
8/8 (time not reported): From a Facebook post by the pilot’s proud flight instructor, the pilot of a Be36 “experienced a sudden loss of oil pressure mid-flight.” The pilot made an immediate landing at Hamilton, Texas, with no injuries and no further damage to the airplane. Photos show significant oil on the cowling and aircraft after landing, indicative of a mechanical engine failure. N404P (E-2792) is a 1993 A36.
(“Catastrophic engine failure/oil loss”—and another job well done)
New Reports This Week
7/23 1342Z (0932 local time Thursday morning): A Be23-24 sustained “substantial” damage during a training flight at Middlefield, Ohio. The student and instructor were unhurt. During landing, “the airplane veered off the right side of the runway, impacted an embankment, and damaged a windsock pole.” N3661Q (MA-251) is a 1968 Musketeer Super III.
(“Loss of directional control during landing”; “Substantial damage”)
8/2 1613Z (0913 local time Sunday morning): A Be36 received “unknown” damage when it was involved in a bird strike while landing at Riverside, California. The solo pilot was not hurt. N303HV (E-2864) is a 1994 A36.
(“Bird strike”—the Aviation Safety Network adds: “The airplane struck a bird leaving a dent in the right wing.”)
8/2 2124Z (1624 local time Sunday afternoon): The solo pilot of a Be18 died and the Twin Beech was “destroyed,” when it crashed during initial climb after takeoff from Guymon, Oklahoma. N210Q (BA-291) was a 1957 E18S.
(“Takeoff/unknown”; “Fatal”; “Aircraft destroyed”—ASN adds: “Eyewitnesses reported the aircraft made a left turn and lost altitude until it struck the ground in an open field.”)
8/5 2217Z (1817 local Wednesday evening): The solo pilot of a Be58 was unhurt when the Baron struck a deer while landing at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The Baron has “substantial” damage. N29DA (TH-645) is a 1975 Baron 58.
(“Collision with animal during landing”; “Substantial damage”)
8/6 0230Z (1830 local Wednesday evening 8/5): The nose gear of a Be36 collapsed during landing at Ports Alsworth, Alaska. The solo pilot was uninjured and airplane damage is “unknown.” N364EM (E-68) is a 1968 Bonanza 36.
(“Gear collapse during landing”)
New NTSB Reports This Week
7/23 Musketeer Super III LODC-R, reported above.
7/24 V35 catastrophic engine failure in flight near Carroll, Iowa, with a successful off-airport landing.
2026 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2026
Total Reports 2026 85
Bonanza/Baron Series 71 reports
Bonanza, Debonair, Baron, Travel Air
By Model
35 Bonanza 22 reports
33 Debonair/Bonanza 15 reports
36 Bonanza 17 reports
95 Travel Air 1 reports
55 Baron 4 reports
56 Turbo Baron 0 reports
58 Baron 12 reports
Environment
VMC 35
IMC 3
Not reported 33
Night 3
Most Serious Injury
Fatal 12
Serious 1
Minor 4
None 54
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed 14
Substantial 23
Minor 7
None 5
Not reported 22
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY 13 reports
Loss of Control in Flight 5 reports
Thunderstorm penetration 1 report (Be36)
During instrument approach 1 report (Be36)
During engine-out training 1 report (Be58)
VFR in IMC (night) 1 report (Be55)
Stall after takeoff 1 report (Be55)
Engine Failure 3 reports
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be36)
Dual engine failure in flight 1 report (Be55)
Turbonormalizer separation 1 report (Be36)
Other/Unknown 5 reports
Takeoff/unknown 2 reports (Be33; Be35)
Approach/unknown 1 report (Be36)
Landing/unknown 1 report (Be58)
Crash/unknown 1 report (Be35)
OTHER Accidents/Incidents 58 reports
Landing Gear Mishaps 30 reports
Gear Collapse During Landing 9 reports (Be33, two Be35s, three Be36s, three Be58s)
Gear Collapse/Electrical Failure 2 reports (Be33, Be35)
Gear Collapse/Incomplete Manual Extension 1 report (Be33)
Gear Collapse/Inadvertent Retract. 1 report (Be58)
Gear Collapse/Touch and Go 1 report (Be33)
Gear Collapse/PIO on Landing 1 report (Be36)
Total Gear Collapse 15 reports
Gear Up Landing 13 reports (six Be33s, four Be35s, two Be58s, Be95)
Gear Up/Insufficient TO Climb 1 report (Be35)
Total Gear Up 14 reports
Known Mechanical Failure 1 report (Be36)
Engine failure 16 reports
Engine Failure in Flight 8 reports (3 Be33s, 4 Be35s, Be36)
Takeoff/Initial Climb 3 reports (2 Be35, Be36)
Catastrophic Failure/ Oil Loss 2 reports (Be35, Be36)
Fuel Exhaustion 1 report (Be55)
Propeller Separation in Flight 1 report (Be58)
Loss of Control Inflight (LOC-I) 3 reports
Stall Immediately After Takeoff 2 reports (Be35, Be36)
Stall During Go-Around 1 report (Be35)
Impact During Landing 4 reports
Loss Directional Control on Runway 2 reports (both Be36s)
Runway Overrun 1 report (Be58)
Collision with Animal on Runway 1 report (Be58)
Impact on Takeoff 1 report
Collision with Obstacle / TO 1 report (Be35)
Other 4 reports
Control Failure in Flight 1 report (Be33)
Collision w/ Obstacle/Taxi 1 report (Be35)
Unknown (aircraft abandoned) 1 report (Be58)
Bird strike 1 report (Be36)
Aero Club Series 11 reports
Skipper, Sport, Musketeer, Sundowner, Sierra, Duchess
By Model
19 Sport 2 reports
23 Musketeer/Custom/Sundowner 3 reports
24 Sierra 2 reports
76 Duchess 4 reports
77 Skipper 0 reports
Environment
VMC 6
IMC 0
Not reported 5
Night 0
Most Serious Injury
Fatal 0
Serious 0
Minor 0
None 11
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed 0
Substantial 5
Minor 3
None 0
Not reported 3
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY 0 reports
OTHER Accidents/Incidents 11 reports
Landing Gear Mishaps 5 reports
Gear Up Landing 2 reports (both Be24s)
Gear Collapse During Landing 1 report (Be76)
Corrosion/Gear Separation 1 report (Be19)
Nose Gear Did Not Extend 1 report (Be24)
Engine Failure 3 reports
Engine Failure in Flight 3 reports (Be19, Be24, Be76)
Impact During Landing 2 reports
Loss Directional Control on Runway 1 report (Be23)
LODC-R Sim. Single Engine 1 report (Be76)
Miscellaneous Models 3 reports
Staggerwing, Twin Beech, Twin Bonanza, Duke, Queen Air, T-34
By Model
17 Staggerwing 0 reports
18 Twin Beech/C-45 2 reports
45 Mentor/T-34 0 reports
50 Twin Bonanza 0 reports
60 Duke 0 reports
65 Queen Air 1 report
Environment
VMC 1
IMC 0
Not reported 2
Night 0
Most Serious Injury
Fatal 1
Serious 0
Minor 0
None 2
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed 1
Substantial 0
Minor 0
None 0
Not reported 2
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY 1 report
Takeoff/unknown 1 report (Be18)
OTHER Accidents/Incidents 2 reports
Landing Gear Mishaps 1 report
Gear Collapse During Landing 1 report (Be65)
Impact on Landing 1 report
Inflight Fire/LODC-R 1 report (Be18)