Piston Beechcraft Accidents October 29 – November 12, 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.
©2025 Mastery Flight Training, Inc. All Rights Reserved
“Beechcraft” is a registered trademark of Textron Aviation, Inc.
THE WEEKLY ACCIDENT UPDATE IS AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCT OF MASTERY FLIGHT TRAINING, INC.
Pursue Mastery of Flight
The FAA resumed posting preliminary accident reports on November 13th following the end of the U.S. government shutdown. I doubt it will go back and catch up on incidents that occurred between October 2nd and that date, which will leave us with an incomplete record of non-reportable incidents for 2024.
New Reports this Week
10/12 1658Z (1058 local time Tuesday morning): A Be95 “landed gear up for unknown reasons resulting in a propeller strike” at Jasper, Alabama. The solo pilot was unhurt and airplane damage is “unknown.” N95DJ (TD-556) is a 1963 D95A.
(“Gear up landing”)
NTSB Preliminary Reports
10/5 triple-fatality 58P loss of control during a visual descent into Williston, Florida. From the report:
On October 5, 2025, at 1610 eastern daylight time, a Beech 58P airplane, N121GJ, was destroyed in an accident near Williston, Florida. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured.
According to people familiar with the flight, the pilot intended to fly the two passengers back to Florida after their hunting trip in Kentucky. The airplane departed Lebanon Springfield Airport (6I2), Springfield, Kentucky, about 1318 and climbed to about 17,000 ft mean sea level. The pilot was receiving radar services from air traffic control (ATC) and was operating under visual flight rules. About 50 miles northwest of the intended destination, Williston Regional Airport (X60), Williston, Florida, the airplane began to descend. About 10 miles northwest of X60 the airplane was level about 1,300 ft msl and 180 kts ground speed, when ATC terminated radar services and transferred communications to the X60 common traffic advisory frequency. About 4 miles northwest of X60, the airplane turned right, and the ground speed increased from 158 kts to 168 kts. In the final 18 seconds of the flight the airplane made a steep descent about 4,000 ft per minute. A pilot witness who was flying about one mile to the west, observed the accident airplane in a steep descent with a 90° bank angle before it impacted the ground and exploded.
Weather at Williston was 2400 scattered, 3300 broken, visibility 10 miles with an eight-knot surface wind. The pilot was operating the Baron on a VFR flight plan.
Change “Approach/unknown” to “Loss of control during descent.”
10/15 fatal V35 controlled flight into terrain in mountains at Austin, Nevada. From the NTSB:
On October 15, 2025, about 1447 Pacific daylight time, a Beech V35, C-FETM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Austin, Nevada. The pilot was fatally injured.
Preliminary ADS-B data showed that the airplane departed West Kootenay Regional Airport (YCG), Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada, about 0903, flew southwest, and arrived at Grant County International Airport (MWH), Moses Lake, Washington, about 1003. The airplane departed MWH about 1149, flew south/southeast and climbed to an altitude of 9,300 ft mean sea level (msl). About 1345, the airplane initiated a climb to 12,000 ft msl, then flew between 11,100 ft msl and 12,400 ft msl for the remainder of the flight track data. About 1414, the airplane turned to the southwest. About 1419, the airplane began a turn toward the southeast and remained on a southeasterly heading until the end of the flight track data. The data ended about 7 miles northwest of the accident site and showed the airplane at an altitude of 11,100 ft msl.
On October 16, 2025, at 1331, an Alert Notice (ALNOT) was issued, following reports from family members, that the airplane was overdue. The wreckage was subsequently located later that day by a private citizen who volunteered to search by air, about 16 miles northeast of Austin, Nevada, at an elevation of 10,195 ft msl. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted mountainous terrain near the top of Mt. Callaghan, on the western slope of the mountain near the peak.
Weather conditions at KTMT, 18 miles from the accident site, were 2500 scattered, 3300 overcast, visibility 10 miles with surface winds at six knots. Field elevation at KTMT is 5735 MSL.
Change “Crash/unknown” to “Controlled Flight into Terrain/Mountains.”
2025 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2025
Total reported: 124 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 65 reports
Operation in IMC: 5 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 56 reports
Operation at night: 6 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 6 reports
Fatal accidents: 17 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 24 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 27 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 111 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be35 Bonanza 36 reports
Be36 Bonanza 33 reports
Be55 Baron 16 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 12 reports
Be58 Baron 10 reports
Be95 Travel Air 4 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 53 reports
Operation in IMC: 5 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 51 reports
Operation at night: 5 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 6 reports
Fatal accidents: 17 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 19 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 27 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 23 reports
Engine failure 9 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)
Engine failure shortly after takeoff/LOC 1 report (Be35)
Fuel starvation 1 report (Be55)
Partial power loss/off-airport landing 1 report (Be36)
Engine failure during visual approach 1 report (Be36)
Partial power loss shortly after takeoff/attempted return 1 report (Be33)
Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) 4 reports
Controlled flight into terrain/mountains 3 reports (all Be35s)
Controlled Flight into Terrain/thunderstorms 1 report (Be58)
Loss of control in flight 3 reports
Loss of control in flight 1 report (Be58)
Loss of control departing in reported heavy precipitation 1 report (Be35)
Loss of control during visual descent 1 report (Be58)
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)
Impact during landing 1 report
Loss of directional control/visual landing 1 report (Be55)
Unknown 4 reports
Crash/unknown 2 reports (Be33; Be58)
Go-around/unknown 1 report (Be35s)
Takeoff/unknown 1 report (Be35)
OTHER EVENTS 86 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 39 reports
Gear collapse during landing 15 reports (Be33; two Be35s; two Be36s; three Be55s; two Be58s; Be95)
Gear up landing 15 reports (six Be35s; Be33; five Be36s; Be55; Be58; Be95)
Gear up landing/mechanical failure 2 reports (Be36; Be95)
Nose wheel separation during landing 1 report (Be33)
Inadvertent gear retraction on the ground/touch and go 1 report (Be35)
Gear collapse during takeoff 1 report (Be55)
Gear up landing/electrical failure 1 report (Be55)
Gear collapse during landing/alternator failure 1 report (Be35)
Inadvertent gear retraction during landing 1 report (Be35)
Gear collapse during taxi from soft ground onto pavement 1 report (Be36)
Engine failure 23 reports
Engine failure in flight 10 reports (three Be33s; six Be35s; Be36)
Engine failure during/immediately after takeoff 5 reports (two Be33s; 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)
Engine failure during approach/landing 1 report (Be35)
Engine fire during takeoff/abort/gear up landing 1 report (Be36)
Impact during landing 10 reports
Landed short 2 reports (both Be36s)
Landing/unknown 2 reports (Be35; Be36)
Runway overrun 1 report (Be58)
Loss of directional control during landing 1 report (Be95)
Propeller strike during landing 1 report (Be55)
Go-around/collision with obstruction 1 report (Be35)
Loss of directional control during the landing roll after open door in flight 1 report (Be33)
Loss of directional control during landing/tire separation 1 report (Be55)
Impact during takeoff 5 reports
Aborted takeoff/runway overrun 1 report (Be55)
Loss of directional control during takeoff 1 report (Be33)
Loss of directional control during takeoff/contaminated runway 1 report (Be35)
Collision with obstacles during takeoff 1 report (Be35)
Collision with obstacles/trees at the end of the runway 1 report (Be36)
Miscellaneous
Taxi into aircraft/object 2 reports (both Be36s)
Bird strike 2 reports (Be35; Be55)
Exit window detached in flight 2 reports (Be36; Be58)
Door open after takeoff/descent into terrain 1 report (Be36)
Taxi into object/other aircraft 1 report (Be36)
Takeoff with tow bar attached 1 report (Be35)
Struck by taxiing aircraft while parked 1 report (Be35)
BEECH AERO CLUB Series: 15 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be19 Sport 4 reports
Be23 Musketeer/Sundowner 4 reports
Be76 Duchess 3 reports
Be24 Sierra 3 reports
Be77 Skipper 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 10 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: 0 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 5 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 15 reports
Impact during landing 8 reports
Loss of directional control during landing 4 reports (two Be19s; Be24; Be77)
Hard landing 2 reports (Be19; Be76)
Loss of directional control during the landing roll after open door in flight 1 report (Be23)
Landing/unknown 1 report (Be23)
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 2 reports
Gear up landing 1 report (Be76)
Gear collapse during landing 1 report (Be76)
Impact during takeoff
Loss of directional control during takeoff 1 report (Be23)
Unknown cause
Off-airport landing/reasons unknown 1 report (Be23)
MISCELLANEOUS Models: 1 report
Be45 Mentor/T-34 1 report
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.
Pursue Mastery of Flight
Recognize an N-number? Want to check on friends or family that may have been involved in a cited mishap? Click here to find the registered owner. Please accept my sincere personal condolences if you or anyone you know was involved in a mishap. I welcome your comments, suggestions and criticisms.