Piston Beechcraft Accidents 7/18/2024 through 7/31/2024
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.
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THE WEEKLY ACCIDENT UPDATE IS AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCT OF MASTERY FLIGHT TRAINING, INC.
New reports this week
7/19 1515Z (1115 local Friday morning): A Be45 landed gear up at Beaver Island, Michigan. The solo pilot was unhurt and airplane damage is “unknown.” N4534M (serial number FM88) is a 1956 T-34A.
(“Gear up landing”)
7/19 1947Z (1447 local Friday afternoon): A Be35 landed gear up at La Crosse, Wisconsin. The two aboard were unhurt and airplane damage is “minor.” N4660D (D-4885) is/was a 1957 H35.
(“Gear up landing”; “Airplane destroyed”—The pilot spoke to me at Oshkosh. He is not medically qualified to fly so was flying with a flight instructor to catch up to a mass Bonanza arrival into AirVenture. The pilot said he was “just behind the airplane” and forgot to extend the landing gear. He did not offer a reason why the flight instructor, who was serving as pilot-in-command, did not ensure the gear was down. The pilot said “everything seemed normal until the propeller began hitting the runway.” He thinks the airplane will be totaled and parted out—hence the “aircraft destroyed.”)
7/19 2100Z (1700 local Friday evening): A Be60 “experienced engine issues and crashed” at Youngstown, Ohio. Three aboard the Duke perished in a “post-crash fire.” The airplane was “destroyed.” N23553 (P-453) was a 1977 B60.
(“Engine failure in flight”; “Fatal”; “Airplane destroyed.” From the NTSB preliminary report:
The flight departed runway 17 at Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG), Plattsburgh, New York at 1651, destined for John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH), Columbus, Ohio. The airplane proceeded to the southwest, and climbed to 16,500 ft.
About 50 miles northeast of Youngstown/Warren Regional Airport (YNG), Vienna Center, Ohio, the pilot informed air traffic control that the airplane’s left engine had lost power and he could not maintain altitude. The arrival east radar controller (YNG tower) offered information on close by airports; however, the pilot requested YNG and its longer, 9,003-ft-long runway.
While descending to YNG, the airplane circled near the approach end of runway 32, then it proceeded along the centerline of runway 32 while continuing to descend. About 3,000 ft from the departure end of the runway, the data indicated that the airplane was close to field altitude at a ground speed of 131 knots. At the end of the runway, the airplane turned left while at a ground speed of 95 knots. The airplane impacted terrain about ¼ mile west of the departure end of runway 32.
A witness, who was on YNG taxiway D, observed the airplane in flight prior to the accident. He stated that the airplane circled near the approach end of runway 32, then proceeded with the approach down runway 32. The airplane was higher than normal when beginning the approach. As the airplane proceeded down the runway, it descended toward the runway; however, it did not touch down. At the end of runway 32, the airplane pitched up rapidly to the left and began to “flip.” The airplane then descended below his field of view and crashed.
The wreckage was located on airport property, outside the confines of the airport’s perimeter fence. The wreckage was found upright and oriented on a 310° heading. A postaccident fire consumed a majority of the wreckage. All structural components of the airplane were found within the wreckage debris path. The landing gear were found in the extended (down) position.
The pilot, who owned and operated the airplane, possessed both Canadian and U.S. Federal Aviation Administration private pilot certificates with airplane single engine land and airplane multiengine land ratings. Recorded weather near the time of the accident included wind from 050° at 5 knots, 10 miles visibility, and few clouds at 5,500 ft above ground level.)
7/20 2200Z (1200 local Saturday noon): A Be35 “crashed under unknown circumstances” at Juneau, Alaska. Three persons aboard were killed; airplane damage is “substantial.” N410B (D-1607) was a 1949 A35.
(“Crash/unknown”; “Fatal”; “Substantial damage”)
7/21 1715Z (1215 local Sunday afternoon): A Be36 “experienced electrical issues” in flight and the pilot subsequently “landed gear up,” at Linden, Tennessee. The two aboard escaped injury and airplane damage is “unknown.” N1891W (E-440) is a 1973 A36.
(“Gear up landing after electrical”—it’s unknown whether the pilot was aware of and/or trained on the manual landing gear extension procedure.)
7/22 1907Z (1507 local Monday afternoon): Two aboard a Be36 died, and the Bonanza was destroyed, when the A36 “crashed under unknown circumstances near the departure end of [the] runway” at Islip, New York. N1089W (E-442) is a 1973 A36.
(“Engine failure immediately after takeoff/ attempt to return to runway”; “Fatal”; “Aircraft destroyed”—the Aviation Safety Network reports:
Preliminary information indicates the airplane was cleared for an intersection take off on runway 24. The aircraft departed and immediately attempted a turnback to the airport when it crashed within airport property.)
7/28 1420Z (0820 local Sunday morning)” A Be23 departed Elko, Nevada, then “experienced engine issues and crashed on a street.” The pilot, alone in the airplane, suffered “serious” injuries. The Sundowner has “substantial” damage. N2248L (M-1895) is a 1977 C23.
(“Engine failure immediately after takeoff”; “Serious injuries”; “Substantial damage”)
7/29 1444Z (1044 local Monday morning): The pilot of a Be55 “declared an emergency” after a “cylinder blew through the cowling of the right engine” near Laurens, South Carolina. N311FT (TC-744) is a 1964 B55.
(“Catastrophic engine failure in flight”)
7/29 1600Z (1200 local Monday noon): A Be36 “experienced engine issues during takeoff” at Naples, Florida, and the solo pilot survived unhurt by “land[ing] long with [the] gear up.” Airplane damage is “unknown.” N934PC (E-3448) is a 2002 A36.
(“Engine failure immediately after takeoff”; “Substantial damage” as evidenced by news photos. Contrast the outcome with the Islip, New York engine failure.)
7/30 1610Z (1110 local Tuesday morning): A Be33 was landing at Lincoln, Nebraska, when it “veered off [the] runway due to a gust of wind.” The Bonanza incurred “minor” damage to the propeller, right wing and landing gear; the three aircraft occupants weren’t injured. N8121N (CE-1574) is a 1991 F33A.
(“Loss of directional control during landing”)
New NTSB reports this week
6/18 58P windshield separation during pressurized flight near Escalante, Utah. From the report:
The pilot stated that after an uneventful departure, he was en route to his destination at a cruise altitude of 21,000 ft. Without warning, the windshield broke apart and he suddenly experienced the force of an explosive decompression. He donned his oxygen mask and initiated an emergency descent. He opted to divert to the nearest airport and landed without further incident at the Page Municipal Airport, Page, Arizona. A post-accident examination revealed that portions of the windshield remained in the frame and the center area had departed the airplane…
6/30 A36 partial power loss immediately after takeoff at Land o’ Lakes, Wisconsin. The NTSB reports:
The pilot reported that during the initial climb, the engine suffered a partial loss of engine power. She executed a forced landing into tress off the departure end of the runway which resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.
Change “Crash/Unknown” to “Partial power loss immediately after takeoff” and add “Substantial damage.”
7/19 triple-fatality Beech Duke loss of control during approach to landing after one engine failed at Youngstown, Ohio, cited above.
2024 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraftâ piston mishaps, 2024
Total reported: 80 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 34 reports
Operation in IMC: 1 report
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 46 reports
Operation at night: 6 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 1 report
Fatal accidents: 10 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 20 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 12 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 64 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be35 Bonanza 21 reports
Be55 Baron 15 reports
Be36 Bonanza 14 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 12 reports
Be58 Baron 5 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 27 reports
Operation in IMC: 1 report
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 35 reports
Operation at night: 5 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 9 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 12 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 10 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 10 reports
Impact during landing 2 reports
Collision with obstacle during landing 1 report (Be55)
Landed short/Collided with vehicle on ground 1 report (Be55)
Loss of Control in Flight (LOC-I) 2 reports
Stall/spin/Loss of control in flight/Dual instruction 1 report (Be55)
Inflight breakup 1 report (Be35)
Inflight fire
Fire in flight during go-around 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure 2 reports
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure immediately after takeoff/ attempt to return to runway 1 report (Be36)
Impact during takeoff
Takeoff/unknown/attempt to return to runway 1 report (Be36)
Unknown
Crash/unknown 1 report (Be35)
OTHER EVENTS 55 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 28 reports
Gear up landing 11 reports (Be23/24, five Be35s; two Be36s; two Be55s; Be58)
Gear collapse during landing 9 reports (two Be33s; Be35; Be36; five Be55s)
Gear up landing after electrical failure 2 reports (Be33/Be36)
Inadvertent gear retraction during landing 1 report (Be58)
Inadvertent gear retraction during taxi 1 report (Be35)
Wheel separation during landing 1 report (Be36)
Gear collapse during landing/Post-crash fire 1 report (Be36)
Inadvertent gear retraction on the ground/touch and go 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure 12 reports
Engine failure in flight 4 reports (two Be33s; two Be35s)
Engine failure during takeoff/overran runaway 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure during takeoff/loss of directional control on runway 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure/oil pressure loss in flight/off-airport landing 1 report (Be36)
Engine failure in the traffic pattern 1 report (Be33)
Engine failure immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be36)
Catastrophic engine failure in flight 1 report (Be55)
Partial power loss immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be36)
Impact during landing 6 reports
Loss of directional control during landing 2 reports (Be33; Be35)
Runway overrun/door open after liftoff/attempted to land on remaining runway/nose gear collapse 1 report (Be33)
Propeller strike/damage to both wings during landing 1 report (Be35)
Loss of control during landing/airplane flipped upside down 1 report (Be55)
Porpoised on landing 1 report (Be33)
Impact during takeoff 3 reports
Runway overrun/aborted takeoff 1 report (Be58)
Loss of directional control during takeoff/crosswinds 1 report (Be35)
Takeoff/unknown 1 report (Be35)
Miscellaneous
Bird strike 2 reports (Be33; Be36)
Severe turbulence/hail encounter 1 report (Be58)
Taxiway excursion at night 1 report (Be36)
Cowling came off in flight 1 report (Be36)
Taxi into obstacle/aircraft 1 report (Be33)
Windshield separation during pressurized flight 1 report (Be58)
BEECH AERO CLUB Series: 12 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be23 Musketeer/Sundowner 5 reports
Be24 Sierra 4 reports
Be76 Duchess 2 reports
Be19 Sport 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 6 reports
Operation in IMC: 0 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 6 reports
Operation at night: 0 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 1 report
Fatal accidents: 0 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 5 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 1 report
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 1 report
Engine failure immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be23)
OTHER EVENTS 11 reports
Impact on landing 4 reports
Loss of directional control during landing/runway excursion 2 reports (Be23; Be23-24)
Hard landing/nose gear collapse/destroyed by fire 1 report (Be23)
Loss of directional control during attempted go-around 1 report (Be23)
Landing gear mishaps 4 reports
Gear collapse during landing 1 report (Be76)
Landing gear mechanical malfunction 1 report (Be24)
Gear up landing 1 report (Be24)
Gear collapse during takeoff 1 report (Be76)
Impact on takeoff 1 report
Engine failure during/immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be24)
Engine failure 1 report
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be19)
MISCELLANEOUS Models: 6 reports
Be45 (T-34) Mentor 3 reports
Be60 Duke 2 reports
Be17 Staggerwing 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 4 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: 2 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 2 reports
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be60)
OTHER EVENTS 5 reports
Gear up landing 3 reports (two Be45s; Be60)
Asymmetric gear extension/inflight system failure 1 report (Be60)
Landed with gear partly extended 1 report (Be17)
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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