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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THE WEEKLY ACCIDENT UPDATE IS AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCT OF MASTERY FLIGHT TRAINING, INC.
From unofficial sources
10/26 (time not reported): A Be50’s “landing gear collapsed” on arrival at Butler, Missouri. The pilot was uninjured “but heartbroken” and airplane damage is not reported. N227DS (FH-74) is a 1957 F50 Twin Bonanza.
(“Gear collapse during landing”)
New reports this week
10/23 2100Z (1600 local Tuesday evening): A Be55 “was taxing between two hangars when a city truck backed out of a hangar and struck the right wingtip of the aircraft,” at Miami, Oklahoma. The solo pilot was unhurt and airplane damage is “minor.” N1561W (TC-1445) is a 1972 B55.
(“Struck by vehicle on the ground”—the FAA preliminary report identifies this as an A36, but the registration is for a B55 Baron. Either the FAA’s data entry on this report is in error or the registration number itself was entered incorrectly.)
10/24 0040Z (1940 local Wednesday evening 10/23): A Be55 “landed gear up on Runway 14” at McAllen, Texas. The solo pilot escaped injury and the airplane incurred “minor” damage. N520T (TE-63) is a 1966 95-C55.
(“Gear up landing”)
10/29 1930Z (1430 local Tuesday afternoon): The solo pilot of a Be58 died and the Baron was “destroyed,” after the pilot declared an emergency “due to [a] trim issue.” The airplane crashed in “a densely forested area nine [miles] north of Clinton, Arkansas. Weather conditions were “not reported.” N811PB (TH-194) was a 1972 Baron 58.
(“Loss of control in flight/trim issue”; “Fatal”; “Airplane destroyed”—we’ve reviewed the response to autopilot and trim runaway several times before, and the need for pilots to know the procedure and all possible ways to disconnect the trim system. We’ll return to the topic if investigation reveals malfunctioning trim was indeed a factor).
New NTSB reports this week
There are no newly posted piston Beech NTSB reports this week.
2024 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2024
Total reported: 119 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 54 reports
Operation in IMC: 3 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 63 reports
Operation at night: 7 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 1 report
Fatal accidents: 17 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 23 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 22 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 97 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be35 Bonanza 27 reports
Be55 Baron 24 reports
Be36 Bonanza 20 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 17 reports
Be58 Baron 12 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 44 reports
Operation in IMC: 4 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 48 reports
Operation at night: 6 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 16 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 15 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 20 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 17 reports
Loss of Control in Flight (LOC-I) 6 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)
Loss of control in flight/trim issue 1 report (Be58)
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 81 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 42 reports
Gear up landing 17 reports (six Be35s; two Be33s; four Be36s; three 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)
Struck by vehicle on the ground 1 report (Be55)
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: 11 reports
Be60 Duke 4 reports
Be45 (T-34) Mentor 3 reports
Be17 Staggerwing 2 reports
Be18 Twin Beech 1 report
Be50 Twin Bonanza 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 6 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 10 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)
Gear collapse during landing 1 report (Be50)
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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