Piston Beechcraft Accidents 10/18/2024 through 10/23/2024
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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New reports this week
10/20 1800Z (1300 local Sunday afternoon): A Be58 “landed hard and [its] nose gear collapsed incurring a dual prop strike” at International Falls, Minnesota. All three aboard escaped injury and the extent of airplane damage is “unknown.” N583MB (TK-150) is a 1983 58TC.
(“Hard landing”)
10/21 1310Z (0810 local Monday morning): A Be36 landed gear up at Midland, Texas. The pilot, alone in the airplane, was not hurt, and airplane damage is “unknown.” N110ME (EA-17) is a 1979 A36TC.
(“Gear up landing”)
New NTSB reports this week
10/1 fatal B55 loss of control in flight at Crystal River, Florida. From the NTSB preliminary report:
On October 1, 2024, about 1540 eastern daylight time, a Beech 95-B55…was destroyed when it collided with terrain near Crystal River, Florida. The private pilot was fatally injured.
Witnesses at a maintenance facility at Crystal River Airport (CGC), Crystal River, Florida, heard the accident pilot transmit a distress call over the airport’s common traffic advisory frequency. The pilot identified the airplane as “68S” and requested the location of the airport, citing visual reference to two large cooling towers. One of the witnesses informed the pilot that the airport was located 7 to 10 nautical miles southeast of his position.
Shortly after, the pilot transmitted a second call, again asking for the distance to the airport. About 1550, the pilot of another airplane observed black smoke and diverted to the area. That pilot located the accident site about 4 nautical miles northwest of CGC and reported the accident airplane was engulfed in smoke and fire.
A witness on a boat in the Crystal River area reported seeing the accident airplane flying low and fast, with both engines operating normally. The airplane’s left wing dipped sharply, and it entered a spiraling descent. The airplane completed two revolutions before descending behind trees, followed by a plume of smoke and an explosion.
The airplane came to rest in a heavily wooded, swampy area about 4 nautical miles northwest of CGC. All major components of the airplane were located at the accident site. The cockpit and instrument panel were destroyed by impact forces and postimpact fire. Both wings remained attached to the fuselage and showed significant impact and fire damage.
The left engine remained attached to the wing and exhibited impact and fire damage. A 10-inch hole was observed on the engine crankcase above the No. 5 cylinder. The Nos. 5 and 6 connecting rods were separated from their pistons and broken connecting rod fragments were located inside the engine case. The propeller had separated from the crankshaft flange and was in the blades appeared to be in a feathered position. The right engine also remained attached to the wing and showed signs of impact and fire damage. No evidence of catastrophic failure was observed. The propeller remained attached to the crankshaft flange and exhibited rotational scoring and gradual aft bending.
Change “Crash/unknown” to “Loss of control in flight,” at least for now. Although the left engine had a hole in the crankcase, the report does not suggest whether it occurred in flight or if it was a result of the impact.
2024 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2024
Total reported: 115 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 51 reports
Operation in IMC: 3 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 62 reports
Operation at night: 7 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 1 report
Fatal accidents: 16 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 23 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 21 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 94 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be35 Bonanza 27 reports
Be55 Baron 22 reports
Be36 Bonanza 20 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 17 reports
Be58 Baron 11 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 42 reports
Operation in IMC: 4 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 47 reports
Operation at night: 6 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 15 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 15 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 19 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 16 reports
Loss of Control in Flight (LOC-I) 5 reports
Loss of control in flight 2 reports (both Be55s)
Inflight breakup 2 reports (Be35; Be58)
Stall/spin/Loss of control in flight/Dual instruction 1 report (Be55)
Impact during takeoff 4 reports
Takeoff/unknown 2 reports (Be36; Be55)
Takeoff/unknown/attempt to return to runway 1 report (Be36)
Loss of directional control during takeoff 1 report (Be33)
Impact during landing 2 reports
Collision with obstacle during landing 1 report (Be55)
Landed short/Collided with vehicle on ground 1 report (Be55)
Engine failure 2 reports
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure immediately after takeoff/ attempt to return to runway 1 report (Be36)
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 79 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 41 reports
Gear up landing 16 reports (six Be35s; two Be33s; four Be36s; two Be55s; two Be58s)
Gear collapse during landing 13 reports (four Be33s; Be35; Be36; six Be55s; Be58)
Gear up landing after electrical failure 2 reports (Be33; Be36)
Gear collapse/partial gear extension/electrical failure in flight 1 report (Be55)
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)
Inadvertent gear retraction during takeoff 1 report (Be36)
Gear collapse during takeoff 1 report (Be58)
Engine failure 14 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)
Engine failure in the pattern/short final/landed on highway 1 report (Be35)
Impact during landing 13 reports
Loss of directional control during landing 4 reports (Be33; two Be35s; Be55)
Hard landing 4 reports (two Be35s; Be55; Be58)
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)
Landed long 1 report (Be58)
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)
Struck by taxiing aircraft 1 report (Be35)
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 5 reports
Gear collapse during landing 2 reports (Be24; 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: 10 reports
Be60 Duke 4 reports
Be45 (T-34) Mentor 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”: 5 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 9 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)
Bird strike 1 report (Be60)
Recognize an N-number? 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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