Pilot Debrief

BEECH 35-C33 near Brookings, SD — 2025-09-06

Investigation ongoingCEN25LA368
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Date
2025-09-06
Location
Brookings, SD, USA
Airport
BKX
Aircraft
BEECH 35-C33
Registration
N1310A
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

NTSB has not published a probable cause for this accident yet. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.

NTSB narrative

On September 6, 2025, about 0859 central daylight time, a Beech 35-C33 airplane, N1310A, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Brookings, South Dakota. The pilot and two passengers sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported a moderate vibration began at about 200-300 ft off the ground just after takeoff. He heard a bang and he noted a decrease in engine power and thrust. All the engine instruments looked good except for the rpm gauge which normally would be at 2,500 rpm but was showing only 2,300 rpm. The pilot lowered the nose of the airplane and began a slow turn back toward the airport. He applied full throttle, but it did not change anything. At one point the pilot heard the stall horn and leveled the airplane. He realized he would not make the airport and aimed at a grass clearing. During the landing the front right seat passenger was knocked unconscious. After the airplane came to a stop a post impact fire ensued. The pilot and rear seat passenger were able to extricate the unconscious passenger out of the airplane. The pilot dialed 9-1-1 and handed his phone to the rear seat passenger who had lost his phone in the cockpit, to complete the call. The pilot and the other passenger, who had regained consciousness, crawled into some tall wet grass to put further separation between themselves and the fire. The airplane was destroyed by the post-impact fire that consumed most of the fuselage and a portion of both wings. The airplane was recovered for further examination.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Loss of engine power (total) · Enroute-climb to cruise
  • Engine Failure Enroute
View NTSB preliminary report

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