Piston Beechcraft Accidents March 26 through March 31, 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
3/20 2108Z (1408 local Friday afternoon): A Be58 “landed gear up and incurred a prop strike” at Shafter, California. The solo pilot was unharmed and airplane damage is “minor.” N584BL (TH-446) is a 1974 Baron 58.
(“Gear up landing”)
4/1 0320Z (2220 local Tuesday 3/31/26): A Be35’s gear collapsed during a night landing at Grand Prairie, Texas. The pilot and passenger were unhurt and airplane damage is “unknown.” N4271D (D-4496) is a 1956 G35.
(“Gear collapse during landing”; “Night”)
NTSB Preliminary Reports
3/7 fatal A36 loss of control during an instrument approach at Gulf Shores, Alabama. From the NTSB preliminary report:
…during the approach phase of the flight, Pensacola approach control instructed the pilot to turn right to a heading of 360°. The pilot acknowledged and reported a weak radio signal. Shortly afterward, ATC advised the pilot he was 4 miles from the final approach fix and instructed him to turn right to a heading of 060° and to maintain 1,600 ft until established on the final approach course. The pilot was then cleared for the RNAV runway 9 approach, and he correctly acknowledged all the instructions. The controller asked if his radio reception had improved and the pilot reported, “slightly better”.
The pilot began his right turn but stopped the turn on a heading of about 050° and flew through the final approach course. The approach controller advised him that he had passed through the final approach course and instructed him to turn to a heading of 110° to rejoin the final approach course. The pilot did not acknowledge the first transmission but correctly acknowledged the second instruction. The airplane entered a descending right turn and leveled off briefly at an altitude of 800 ft on a heading of about 150°. It then entered a gradual tightening left turn and climb to 1,300 ft, before transitioning into a steep descending turn.
The airplane impacted the water on a heading of between 300° and 324° at a ground speed of about 165 knots. Underwater sonar scans showed the wreckage was scattered over an area 700 ft long by 300 ft wide in water depths of 8-9 ft.
Change “Crash/unknown” to “Loss of control during an instrument approach in IMC.”
2026 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2026
Total reported: 32 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 26 reports
By Model
Be35 Bonanza 10 reports
Be36 Bonanza 8 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 4 reports
Be58 Baron 4 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 15 reports
Operation in IMC: 2 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 9 reports
Operation at night: 1 report
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 4 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 7 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 2 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 4 reports
Loss of control in flight (LOC-I) 2 reports
Loss of control in IMC 1 report (Be36)
Loss of control during an instrument approach in IMC 1 report (Be36)
Engine failure 1 report
Catastrophic engine failure in flight 1 report (Be36)
Unknown 1 report
Crash/unknown 1 report (Be36)
OTHER EVENTS 22 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 11 reports
Gear up landing 5 reports (Be33; three Be35s; Be58)
Gear collapse during landing 5 reports (Be33; Be35; two Be36s; Be58)
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 4 reports
Loss of directional control during landing 2 reports (Be35; Be36)
Runway overrun 1 report (Be58)
Collision with an airplane that pulled on onto runway 1 report (Be35)
Impact during takeoff 2 reports
Stall immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be35)
Takeoff/unknown 1 report (Be35)
BEECH AERO CLUB Series: 5 reports
Skipper, Musketeer, Sundowner, Sierra, Duchess
By Model
Be76 Duchess 2 reports
Be19 Sport 1 report
Be23 Musketeer, Sundowner 1 report
Be24 Sierra 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: 3 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 0 reports
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 0 reports
OTHER EVENTS 5 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 1 report
Gear up landing 1 reports (Be76)
Engine failure 1 report
Engine failure in flight/attempted single-engine landing 1 report (Be76)
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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