Piston Beechcraft Accidents January 1 – January 8, 2025
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
1/1 0630Z (0130 local New Year’s morning): Four aboard a Be36 escaped injury despite the Bonanza being “destroyed” shortly after takeoff at Naples, Florida. “The airplane experienced engine issues and crashed on airport property.” N8163F (E-2590) was a 1991 A36.
(“Engine failure during/shortly after takeoff”; “Airplane destroyed”; “Night”; “IMC”—photos of first responders at the aircraft minutes after the crash confirm local reports of low IFR conditions in fog at the time of the crash. The METAR a little more than an hour after the crash was:
KAPF 010753Z AUTO 00000KT 1/4SM FG VV002 20/ A3001 RMK AO2 SLP161 T0200
The pilot appears to have done a good job of maintaining control into the crash, especially given conditions, as confirmed by the lack of injuries).
1/2 0048Z (1648 local Thursday afternoon): A Be45 landed gear up at Santa Barbara, California. The solo pilot was unhurt and airplane damage is “unknown.” N34AT (G-139) is a 1957 A45.
(“Gear up landing”)
New NTSB reports this week
2025 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2025
Total reported: 2 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 1 report
Operation in IMC: 1 report
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 0 reports
Operation at night: 1 report
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 0 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 0 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 1 report
BONANZA/BARON Series: 1 report
By Aircraft Type
Be36 Bonanza 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 0 reports
Operation in IMC: 1 report
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 0 reports
Operation at night: 1 report
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 0 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 0 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 1 report
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 0 reports
OTHER EVENTS 1 report
Engine failure
Engine failure during/shortly after takeoff 1 report (Be36)
BEECH AERO CLUB Series: 0 reports
MISCELLANEOUS Models: 1 report
Be45 Mentor/T-34 1 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 1 report
Operation in IMC: 0 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 0 reports
Operation at night: 0 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 0 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 0 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 0 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 0 reports
OTHER EVENTS 1 report
Landing gear related mishaps
Gear up landing 1 report (Be45)
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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