Piston Beechcraft Accidents May 7 through May 15, 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
5/7 1609Z (0909 local Thursday morning): A Be33 landed gear up at Red Bluff, California. The solo pilot was unhurt and airplane damage is “minor.” N3688R (CE-918) is a 1980 F33A.
(“Gear up landing”—this one got a lot of press because the pilot abandoned the aircraft).
NTSB Preliminary Reports
4/13 double-fatality Baron 58 instructional crash at New Market, Tennessee. From the report:
The commercial pilot, and airplane owner, was receiving an instrument competency [sic] check from the flight instructor when the accident occurred.
The airplane departed runway 26 at Knoxville Downtown Island Airport (DKX), Knoxville, TN, about 1241. It then proceeded northeast before turning to the southeast toward the BOTRE intermediate fix associated with the RNAV GPS RWY 10 instrument approach procedure to the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport (GKT) Sevierville, Tennessee. Upon arrival at BOTRE it made a left turn toward GKT consistent with the approach procedure. The airplane then made a low approach over the runway before it turned north and executed the published missed approach procedure, which included a hold.
The airplane completed one circuit of the holding pattern before turning northwest toward New Market, Tennessee. The airplane made a right turn toward the northeast as its groundspeed decreased to 17 knots, it then entered a steep descent toward the ground. The last data return was 1308:43 and coincided with the accident site.
A witness observed the airplane in a left bank with a nose down attitude before it impacted the ground. He did not recall hearing any engine noise or observing smoke or fire trailing from the airplane. Another witness lived near an airport and was familiar with aircraft sounds, reported hearing the airplane fly over the river, and noted that it did not sound normal. Although she did not see the airplane; she stated that it sounded as if it were in a spiral. She further reported that the engine sound changed drastically, alternating between what sounded like full power and idle at 1 second intervals. This occurred several times immediately before she heard the airplane impact the ground.
That second witness’ description sounds more like an airplane in a spin as heard from a fixed location on the ground.
4/25 double-fatality F33A crash immediately after takeoff at Crystal Lake, Minnesota. Read more in the May 16 FLYING LESSONS Weekly.
2026 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2026
Total reported: 43 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 35 reports
By Model
Be35 Bonanza 12 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 9 reports
Be36 Bonanza 9 reports
Be58 Baron 6 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 23 reports
Operation in IMC: 2 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 10 reports
Operation at night: 1 report
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 6 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 7 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 5 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 6 reports
Loss of control in flight (LOC-I) 3 reports
Loss of control in IMC 1 report (Be36)
Loss of control during an instrument approach in IMC 1 report (Be36)
Loss of control in flight/multiengine instruction 1 report (Be58)
Engine failure 2 reports
Catastrophic engine failure in flight 1 report (Be36)
Partial power loss in cruise/turbocharger failure 1 report (Be36)
Impact during/immediately after takeoff
Takeoff/unknown 1 report (Be33)
OTHER EVENTS 29 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 14 reports
Gear up landing 8 reports (three Be33s; three Be35s; two Be58s)
Gear collapse during landing 5 reports (Be33; Be35; two Be36s; Be58)
Gear collapse during landing/electrical failure in flight 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure 8 reports
Engine failure in flight 5 reports (Be35; three Be33s; Be36)
Engine failure immediately after takeoff 2 reports (Be35; Be36)
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)
Other
Taxi into object/obstruction 1 report (Be35)
BEECH AERO CLUB Series: 7 reports
Skipper, Musketeer, Sundowner, Sierra, Duchess
By Model
Be76 Duchess 3 reports
Be23 Musketeer, Sundowner 2 reports
Be19 Sport 1 report
Be24 Sierra 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 5 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: 4 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 0 reports
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 0 reports
OTHER EVENTS 6 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 2 reports
Gear up landing 1 reports (Be76)
Gear collapse during landing 1 report (Be76)
Engine failure 2 reports
Engine failure in flight/attempted single-engine landing 1 report (Be76)
Engine failure after takeoff/runway overrun on return 1 report (Be23)
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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Please accept my sincere personal condolences if you or anyone you know was involved in a mishap. I welcome your comments, suggestions and criticisms.