Piston Beechcraft Accidents 8/15/2024 through 8/21/2024
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
8/11 0100Z (1800 local Saturday evening 8/10/24): A Be35 “landed hard” and its “gear collapsed” at Sequim, Washington. Two persons aboard the Bonanza escaped injury despite “substantial” airplane damage. N354AL (D-6570) is a 1960 N35.
(“Hard landing”; “Substantial damage”)
8/20 1455Z (0955 local Tuesday morning): A Be17 “experienced engine issues and made a precautionary landing in a field” near Longview, Texas. The solo pilot was unhurt and the extent of damage to the Staggerwing is “unknown.” N67555 (c/n 6876) is a 1944 D17S.
(“Precautionary landing/engine issues”—the local flight had only been airborne about half an hour.)
New NTSB reports this week
7/19 triple fatality Beech Duke loss of control while attempting a single-engine landing at Vienna Center, Ohio. From the NTSB preliminary report:
…the flight departed…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 1⁄4 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…. A postaccident fire consumed a majority of the wreckage.
(Change “Engine failure in flight” to “Loss of control while attempting a single-engine landing.”)
7/20 triple-fatality A35 controlled flight into terrain at Gustavus, Alaska. The NTSB reports:
…the accident airplane departed Juneau about 1344 and initially headed northwest for about 72 miles. The airplane’s track then changed direction to a southwesterly heading and began flying through the mountainous terrain of Glacier Bay National Park for an additional 30 miles. About 1421, as the airplane’s flight track continued along a westerly heading of 245°, at an altitude of 10,875 ft. above mean sea level (MSL), and with a groundspeed of 141 kts, the flight track abruptly stops on the eastern side of East Crillon mountain. The elevation of the terrain above the last data point is about 11,220 ft MSL….
The closest weather reporting station is in Gustavus, about 54 miles southeast of the accident site, which was reporting that, at 1356, the ceiling was overcast at 600 ft above ground level (AGL) variable to 1,100 ft AGL, with 10 miles visibility. A preliminary National Transportation Safety Board weather study…indicat[es] cloud bases as low as 2,200 ft MSL and tops no less than 12,000 ft MSL in the accident region with surface visibilities less than 0.25 statute miles. The High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model, provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), suggested the presence of clouds from 3,000 ft MSL to 12,500 ft MSL in the accident region.
(Change “Crash/Unknown” to “Controlled Flight into Terrain/Probable VFR flight into IMC” and change “Substantial” damage to “Airplane destroyed.”)
8/6 quadruple fatality F33A loss of directional control during takeoff at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The NTSB report states:
A preliminary review of security camera footage from the fixed based operator building at HSD, showed an excursion from runway 18 during the takeoff roll. During the takeoff roll, the airplane departed the concrete runway to the left and impacted a hay bale. The airplane continued the departure to the left, traveling over a large grass field. The airplane impacted a chain link fence and then impacted various trees on private property. Upon impacting the trees, an explosion occurred, and then a postimpact fire consumed most of the wreckage.
(Change “Collision with obstacle during takeoff” to “Loss of directional control during takeoff.”)
2024 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2024
Total reported: 91 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 38 reports
Operation in IMC: 1 report
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 53 reports
Operation at night: 6 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 1 report
Fatal accidents: 12 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 21 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 16 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 71 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be35 Bonanza 22 reports
Be55 Baron 17 reports
Be36 Bonanza 16 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 13 reports
Be58 Baron 6 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 30 reports
Operation in IMC: 2 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 38 reports
Operation at night: 5 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 11 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 13 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 14 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 12 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) 3 reports
Stall/spin/Loss of control in flight/Dual instruction 1 report (Be55)
Loss of control in flight 1 report (Be55)
Inflight breakup 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 2 reports
Takeoff/unknown/attempt to return to runway 1 report (Be36)
Loss of directional control during takeoff 1 report (Be33)
Controlled Flight into Terrain
Controlled Flight into Terrain/Probable VFR flight into IMC 1 report (Be35)
Inflight fire
Fire in flight during go-around 1 report (Be35)
OTHER EVENTS 60 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 29 reports
Gear up landing 12 reports (Be23/24, five Be35s; two Be36s; two Be55s; two Be58s)
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 13 reports
Engine failure in flight 5 reports (two Be33s; two Be35s; Be36)
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 8 reports
Loss of directional control during landing 2 reports (Be33; Be35)
Hard landing 2 reports (Be35; Be55)
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 4 reports
Runway overrun/aborted takeoff 1 report (Be58)
Loss of directional control during takeoff/crosswinds 1 report (Be35)
Collision with terrain on takeoff/wind shear 1 report (Be36)
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: 13 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be23 Musketeer/Sundowner 6 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”: 7 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 12 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)
Engine failure 2 reports
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be19)
Engine failure on final approach 1 report (Be23)
Impact on takeoff 1 report
Engine failure during/immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be24)
MISCELLANEOUS Models: 9 reports
Be45 (T-34) Mentor 3 reports
Be60 Duke 3 reports
Be17 Staggerwing 2 reports
Be18 Twin Beech 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 5 reports
Operation in IMC: 0 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 4 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 1 report
Loss of control while attempting a single-engine landing 1 report (Be60)
OTHER EVENTS 7 reports
Gear up landing 4 reports (two Be45s; two Be60s)
Asymmetric gear extension/inflight system failure 1 report (Be60)
Landed with gear partly extended 1 report (Be17)
Loss of directional control during landing/tailwheel 1 report (Be18)
Precautionary landing/engine issues 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.
Pursue Mastery of Flight (TM)