What happened
On October 7, 2025, a Beech A35, registration N577B, was destroyed following an accident near Skidmore, Texas. The flight was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use.
According to preliminary ADS-B data, the aircraft departed from runway 12 at Beeville Municipal Airport at 12:19. After reaching an altitude of approximately 1,600 feet MSL, the aircraft entered a descending right turn. At 12:23, the aircraft's final ADS-B position was recorded approximately 600 feet east of the initial impact point.
A doorbell camera from a nearby property captured the aircraft descending from left to right. The video showed the aircraft appeared intact, and the engine was heard running during the descent. At the time of the accident, local law enforcement reported that heavy rain and storm activity had caused several vehicle accidents on nearby roads due to reduced visibility.
The accident resulted in 1 fatality.
The investigation
The wreckage was distributed along a path oriented at approximately 2/80°. The main wreckage, which included the fuselage from the firewall to the empennage and the left wing, was located about 500 feet from the initial impact. The engine was found approximately 1,200 feet from the impact site. The right wing was fragmented, with pieces located between the impact point and the main wreckage.
Investigators examined the flight control systems and found that the control cables were continuous from the cockpit to the empennage. While the aileron control bellcranks on both wings exhibited breaks, these were determined to be consistent with impact damage. No defects in the primary flight control system were observed.
The engine had separated from the airframe. Examination revealed the propeller flange had separated, the accessory case was fractured, and the induction and exhaust systems had separated from the engine. While the engine could not be tested for compression, borescope examinations of the cylinders showed no anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. Both magnetos were separated from the engine; one was found broken in the debris field, and the second was not located during the on-scene examination.