Piston Beechcraft Accidents May 1 – May 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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From unofficial sources
4/29 1335 local time: The Aviation Safety Network reports:
A Beechcraft A36 Bonanza on a return flight from Izumo to Yao [Japan] crashed on a grassland, bounced and fell down to the lake Nakaumi near Tayorigawa River during an attempted forced landing. The pilot received minor injuries while the passenger injured seriously [with] suspected broken bones. They were transported to the hospital. The Bonanza is floating on the water. Eyewitness reports the aircraft flew at an altitude of [about] 100 feet just before the crash. The pilot reported that the engine failed following low oil indication 15 minutes after takeoff. The Beechcraft’s forward section was broken off. JTSB initially launched an investigation as a serious incident, but it was changed to be an accident the next day.
JA-4160 (E-2734) is a 1992 A36.
(“Engine failure in flight/oil loss”; “Serious injury”; “Substantial damage”)
New NTSB reports this week
4/9 A36 oil loss, engine failure and off-airport landing at Fredericksburg, Virginia. From the report:
According to pilot, while conducting a flight from Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO), Leesburg, Virginia to Hampton Roads Executive Airport (PVG), Norfolk, Virginia, the airplane experienced a loss of oil pressure, followed by a complete loss of engine power. The pilot tried to land in a field but overshot the intended landing area. The left wing contacted a tree at the end of the field and the airplane rolled over and struck another tree.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the airframe. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that there was a hole in the top of the engine crankcase and the connecting rod for the No. 4 cylinder was fragmented.
2025 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2025
Total reported: 42 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 24 reports
Operation in IMC: 3 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 16 reports
Operation at night: 4 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 2 reports
Fatal accidents: 3 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 11 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 6 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 37 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be36 Bonanza 18 reports
Be35 Bonanza 6 reports
Be55 Baron 5 reports
Be58 Baron 4 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 2 reports
Be95 Travel Air 2 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 19 reports
Operation in IMC: 3 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 15 reports
Operation at night: 3 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 2 reports
Fatal accidents: 3 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 9 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 6 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 5 reports
Engine failure
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be36)
Fuel starvation 1 report (Be55)
Engine failure in flight/oil loss 1 report (Be36)
Impact during/immediately after takeoff
Loss of control/IFR departure 1 report (Be36)
OTHER EVENTS 32 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 14 reports
Gear collapse during landing 9 reports (two Be35s; two Be36s; two Be55s; two Be58s; Be95)
Gear up landing 4 reports (Be35; three Be36s)
Nose wheel separation during landing 1 report (Be33)
Inadvertent gear retraction on the ground/touch and go 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure 8 reports
Engine failure in flight 3 reports (Be33; Be35; Be36)
Engine failure during/immediately after takeoff 2 reports (both Be36s)
Engine failure shortly after takeoff/catastrophic failure 1 report (Be36)
Dual partial power loss/off-airport landing 1 report (Be58)
Engine failure in flight/oil loss 1 report (Be36)
Impact during landing 3 reports
Runway overrun 1 report (Be58)
Landed short 1 report (Be36)
Loss of directional control during landing 1 report (Be95)
Impact during takeoff
Aborted takeoff/runway overrun 1 report (Be55)
Loss of directional control during takeoff/contaminated runway 1 report (Be35)
Miscellaneous
Taxi into object 1 report (Be36)
Door open after takeoff/descent into terrain 1 report (Be36)
Bird strike 1 report (Be55)
Taxi into object/other aircraft 1 report (Be36)
BEECH AERO CLUB Series: 5 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be19 Sport 1 report
Be23 Musketeer/Sundowner 1 report
Be24 Sierra 1 report
Be76 Duchess 1 report
Be77 Skipper 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 4 reports
Operation in IMC: 0 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 1 report
Operation at night: 0 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 0 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 2 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 5 reports
Engine failure 2 reports
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be24)
Engine failure shortly after takeoff 1 report (Be19)
Landing gear related mishaps
Gear up landing 1 report (Be76)
Impact during landing
Loss of directional control during landing 1 report (Be77)
Unknown cause
Off-airport landing/reasons unknown 1 report (Be23)
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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