Piston Beechcraft Accidents January 28 – February 4, 2026
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
2/1 1642Z (1042 local Sunday morning): A Be33 “experienced engine issues and landed in a field” at Athens, Texas. Both aboard the Debonair were unhurt and there was no aircraft damage. N378Z (CD-266) is a 1961 33-A33.
(“Engine failure in flight”)
2/1 1719Z (1219 local Sunday afternoon): A Be35’s pilot “attempted a go-around immediately after touching down and [its] landing gear struck the windshield of [a Piper Cherokee 140] which [had] just taxied onto the runway” at Odessa, Texas. Both the Bonanza and the PA28 suffered “substantial” damage. No one was hurt in either airplane. N9AB (D-10175) is a 1978 V35B.
(“Collision with an airplane that pulled on onto runway”; “Substantial” damage)
NTSB Preliminary Reports
1/2 B35 stall immediately after takeoff at Berger, Texas. Change “Conditions unknown” to “VMC” and add “Substantial” damage.
1/7 K35 engine failure immediately after takeoff at Prescott, Arizona. From the report:
The pilot receiving instruction reported that upon arriving at the Prescott Regional/Ernest A Love Field Airport (PRC), Prescott, Arizona, they conducted an ILS approach to runway 21L. After they completed a touch and go landing and takeoff, they noted a positive rate of climb and retracted the landing gear. At about 50 ft agl, they heard a loud “bang” and observed the airplane’s propellor completely stop. The flight instructor then pushed the control yoke forward to maintain airspeed. Unable to maintain altitude the pilot initiated a gear up forced landing to the remaining runway. During the landing flare the airplane landed hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage.
Change “Gear up landing/touch and go” to “Engine failure immediately after takeoff”, add “Substantial damage” and change “Conditions unknown” to “VMC.”
1/8 fatal A36 loss of control in IMC at Sabine Pass, Texas. From the report:
The airplane departed the Jennings Airport (3R7), Jennings, Louisiana, at 1351, and was en route to the Scholes International Airport (GLS), Galveston, Texas, at an altitude of 6,000 ft mean sea level (msl). The pilot had filed an instrument flight rules flight plan and was in radio communications with Houston Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON). At 1430, the pilot was given a clearance to descend to 4,000 ft msl, which was acknowledged by the pilot. ADS-B data showed that about that time, the airplane entered a rain shower followed by a descending right turn before radar contact was lost.
Change “Crash/unknown” to “Loss of control in IMC” and add “IMC.”
2026 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2026
Total reported: 9 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 9 reports
By Model
Be35 Bonanza 4 reports
Be58 Baron 2 reports
Be36 Bonanza 1 report
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 2 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 6 reports
Operation in IMC: 1 report
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: 1 report
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 1 report
Loss of control in flight (LOC-I)
Loss of control in IMC 1 report (Be36)
OTHER EVENTS 8 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 3 reports
Gear collapse during landing 2 reports (Be33, Be58)
Gear collapse during landing/electrical failure in flight 1 report (Be35)
Impact during landing 2 reports
Runway overrun 1 report (Be58)
Collision with an airplane that pulled on onto runway 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure 2 reports
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be33)
Engine failure immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be35)
Impact during takeoff 1 report
Stall immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be35)
BEECH AERO CLUB Series: 0 reports
Skipper, Musketeer, Sundowner, Sierra, Duchess
MISCELLANEOUS Models: 0 reports
Staggerwing, Twin Beech, Twin Bonanza, Queen Air
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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.