Piston Beechcraft Accidents March 5 through March 16, 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
From unofficial sources
2/28 1800Z (1700 local Saturday evening): The Aviation Safety Network reports a Be60:
…clipped some train overhead lines when approaching runway 26 at Egelsbach Airfield (EDFE), Egelsbach, Hesse [Germany]. The pilot, who was blinded by the low sun, was not injured and the aircraft received minor damage.
Weather was “CAVOK” (“ceiling and visibility OK”) with eight- to nine-knot surface winds. N181BD (P-563) is a 1980 B60 Duke.
(“Collision with wires during landing”)
3/6 (time not reported): A reader reports that a Be33 landed gear up on a remote dirt airstrip at El Fuerte, Sinaloa Province, Mexico. There were no reported injuries and the extent of airplane damage is “unknown.” The aircraft is an F33A, registration not reported.
(“Gear up landing”)
New Official Reports this Week
3/7 1810Z (1010 local Saturday morning): A Be35 landed gear up at Marana, Arizona. The solo pilot was unhurt and airplane damage is “unknown.” N8924M (D-7337) is a 1964 S35.
(“Gear up landing”)
3/7 2304Z (1704 local Saturday evening): Two aboard a Be36 died, and the Bonanza was “destroyed,” during an attempted instrument approach in IMC at Gulf Shores, Alabama. The airplane “crashed under unknown circumstances into the Bon Secour Bay” and sank. N66519 (E-2054) was a 1982 A36.
(“Crash/unknown”; “Fatal”; “Aircraft destroyed”; “IMC”—the Aviation Safety Network reports:
The reported weather at 1755 LT, included winds from 110 at 8 knots, 8 miles visibility, an overcast ceiling at 500ft AGL, a temperature of 22°C, a dewpoint of 21°C, an[d] 30.06 inches of mercury. The reported weather at 1955 LT, included winds from 110 at 8 knots, 2.5 miles visibility, an overcast ceiling at 200ft AGL, a temperature of 21°C, a dewpoint of 21°C, an[d] 30.07 inches of mercury. The 1855 LT reading was not reported.
Unverified online sources reveal a radar track that suggests a loss of control or other control-ending event about the time the aircraft turned inbound on the final approach course. I anticipate that plot will be featured in the upcoming NTSB report.
3/11 2000Z (1500 local Wednesday afternoon): A Be33 “experienced engine issues and landed on a highway” at Austin, Texas. The solo pilot was unhurt and there was no further airplane damage. N821PG (CD-93) is a 1960 35-33 Debonair.
(“Engine failure in flight”—widely circulated video shows the pilot did an outstanding job of getting the aircraft safely on the ground”)
NTSB Preliminary Reports
2/9 G36 engine failure in flight at Gainesville, Georgia. The reported propeller overspeed (3400 rpm) is indicative of a massive loss of engine oil.
2/26 B36TC loss of directional control on the runway at Durango, Colorado.
2/28 Beech Duchess loss of directional control on the runway at Snohomish, Washington.
2026 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2026
Total reported: 26 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 21 reports
By Model
Be35 Bonanza 7 reports
Be36 Bonanza 7 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 4 reports
Be58 Baron 3 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 15 reports
Operation in IMC: 2 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 4 reports
Operation at night: 0 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 3 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 7 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 1 report
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 3 reports
Loss of control in flight (LOC-I) 2 reports
Loss of control in IMC 1 report (Be36)
Crash/unknown 1 report (Be36)
Engine failure
Catastrophic engine failure in flight 1 report (Be36)
OTHER EVENTS 18 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 8 reports
Gear collapse during landing 4 reports (Be33, two Be36, Be58)
Gear up landing 3 reports (Be33; two Be35s)
Gear collapse during landing/electrical failure in flight 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure 5 reports
Engine failure in flight 3 reports (two Be33s; Be36)
Engine failure immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be35)
Propeller separation in flight 1 report (Be58)
Impact during landing 3 reports
Runway overrun 1 report (Be58)
Collision with an airplane that pulled on onto runway 1 report (Be35)
Loss of directional control during landing 1 report (Be36)
Impact during takeoff 2 reports
Stall immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be35)
Takeoff/unknown 1 report (Be35)
BEECH AERO CLUB Series: 4 reports
Skipper, Musketeer, Sundowner, Sierra, Duchess
By Model
Be19 Sport 1 report
Be23 Musketeer, Sundowner 1 report
Be24 Sierra 1 report
Be76 Duchess 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 3 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: 3 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 0 reports
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 0 reports
OTHER EVENTS 4 reports
Impact during landing 3 reports
Loss of directional control during landing 1 report (Be23)
Loss of directional control during landing/Simulated single-engine landing 1 report (Be76)
Hard landing 1 report (Be19)
Landing gear related mishaps
Gear up landing 1 report (Be24)
MISCELLANEOUS Models: 1 report
Staggerwing, Twin Beech, Twin Bonanza, Duke, Queen Air
By Model
Be60 Duke 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
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 0 reports
OTHER EVENTS 1 report
Impact during landing 1 report
Collision with wires during landing (Be60)
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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.