Piston Beechcraft Accidents July 9 – July 16, 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
7/6 1835Z (1235 local Sunday afternoon): The solo pilot of a Be35 died, and the Bonanza was “destroyed,” when it “crashed into rising terrain for unknown reasons” during “initial climb” shortly after departing Angel Fire, New Mexico. N5009B (D-4269) was a 1955 F35.
(“Controlled flight into terrain/mountains,” according to news reports; “Fatal”; “Airplane destroyed”—Angel Fire is known for being in a valley surrounded by 9800-12,500 high peaks all around; high density altitudes, with a field elevation of 8380 MSL; and as stated in the Chart Supplement, “rising terrain in all directions.” A local pilot has posted a video with recommendations for departure and his observation that many accidents are influenced by typical wind flows and airplanes’ “inability to outclimb terrain.” The flight appears not to have reached a height or location at which it generated a radar or ADS-B track, at least one released in the public record to date).
7/6 2055Z (1555 Sunday afternoon): A Be35 was departing Minneapolis, Minnesota, when it’s pilot “declared an emergency due to the towbar breaking on departure, damaging the prop[eller] and [the airplane’s] belly.” The solo pilot was not hurt. Airplane damage is “minor.” N6269V (D-8598) is a 1967 V35.
(“Takeoff with tow bar attached”)
7/8 1542Z (1042 local Tuesday afternoon): A Be33’s landing gear collapsed causing a propeller strike at Aurora, Illinois. The solo pilot was not hurt; airplane damage is “unknown.” N6759J (CE-1040) is a 1984 F33A.
(“Gear collapse during landing”)
7/13 0122Z (2022 local Sunday evening): A Be35 “crashed after takeoff under unknown circumstances” at Cedar Creek, Missouri. The pilot suffered “serious” injuries and the passenger received “minor” injuries. The airplane has “unknown” damage. N3181V (D-616) was a 1947 Model 35.
(“Takeoff/unknown”; “Serious injury” and on the basis of news photos, “Airplane destroyed”)
7/15 1743Z (1043 Tuesday morning): A Be55 “suffered a prop strike” when its “landing gear collapsed” and the “Baron struck a runway light” during an attempted takeoff at Las Vegas, Nevada. The solo pilot was unhurt and airplane damage is “unknown.” N945B (TC-1826) is a 1974 B55.
(“Gear collapse during takeoff”)
New NTSB reports this week
There are no newly posted piston Beech NTSB reports this week.
2025 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2025
Total reported: 71 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 37 reports
Operation in IMC: 4 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 31 reports
Operation at night: 5 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 4 reports
Fatal accidents: 7 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 13 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 14 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 62 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be36 Bonanza 22 reports
Be35 Bonanza 16 reports
Be55 Baron 10 reports
Be58 Baron 6 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 5 reports
Be95 Travel Air 3 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 28 reports
Operation in IMC: 4 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 29 reports
Operation at night: 4 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 4 reports
Fatal accidents: 7 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 10 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 14 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 11 reports
Engine failure 6 reports
Engine failure in flight/oil loss 2 reports (both Be36s)
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be36)
Fuel starvation 1 report (Be55)
Partial power loss/off-airport landing 1 report (Be36)
Impact during/immediately after takeoff 2 reports
Loss of control/IFR departure 1 report (Be36)
Loss of control in flight/door open after takeoff 1 report (Be55)
Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) 2 reports
Controlled Flight into Terrain/thunderstorms 1 report (Be58)
Controlled flight into terrain/mountains 1 report (Be35)
Takeoff/unknown 1 report (Be35)
OTHER EVENTS 51 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 22 reports
Gear collapse during landing 12 reports (Be33; two Be36s; two Be55s; two Be58s; Be95)
Gear up landing 9 reports (three Be35s; Be33; four Be36s; Be58)
Nose wheel separation during landing 1 report (Be33)
Inadvertent gear retraction on the ground/touch and go 1 report (Be35)
Gear up landing/mechanical failure 1 report (Be95)
Gear collapse during takeoff 1 report (Be55)
Engine failure 14 reports
Engine failure in flight 5 reports (Be33; three Be35s; Be36)
Engine failure during/immediately after takeoff 3 reports (two Be36s; Be55)
Engine failure shortly after takeoff/catastrophic failure 1 report (Be36)
Partial power loss immediately after takeoff
Dual partial power loss/off-airport landing 1 report (Be58)
Engine failure in flight/oil loss 1 report (Be36)
Propeller separation in flight 1 report (Be55)
Engine failure during landing 1 report (Be36)
Impact during landing 4 reports
Runway overrun 1 report (Be58)
Landed short 1 report (Be36)
Loss of directional control during landing 1 report (Be95)
Propeller strike during landing 1 report (Be55)
Impact during takeoff 3 reports
Aborted takeoff/runway overrun 1 report (Be55)
Loss of directional control during takeoff/contaminated runway 1 report (Be35)
Collision with obstacles during takeoff 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)
Takeoff with tow bar attached 1 report (Be35)
BEECH AERO CLUB Series: 9 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be19 Sport 3 reports
Be76 Duchess 2 reports
Be24 Sierra 2 reports
Be23 Musketeer/Sundowner 1 report
Be77 Skipper 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 7 reports
Operation in IMC: 0 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 2 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: 3 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 9 reports
Impact during landing 4 reports
Loss of directional control during landing 3 reports (two Be19s; Be77)
Hard landing 1 report (Be76)
Engine failure 3 reports
Engine failure during/immediately after takeoff 2 reports (Be19; Be24)
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be24)
Landing gear related mishaps
Gear up landing 1 report (Be76)
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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