Beech 58 accident near Brainerd, Minnesota, January 3, 2009
On January 3, 2009 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Beech 58, registered N70DD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Brainerd, Minnesota (Brainerd - Lakes Regional airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the unforcasted freezing rain that obscured the windscreen and hindered the pilot's ability to judge the height of the airplane above the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 3, 2009 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Brainerd, Minnesota · Brainerd - Lakes Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N70DD · no longer on the register · serial TH-370
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot diverted to a nearby airport after he encountered unforecasted freezing rain. He made two low passes over the airport while trying to clear ice off of the windshield; however, the windshield alcohol de-ice could not keep up with the ice accumulation. The pilot stated that he had to look out of the side window during the landing and once he descended below the tree line, he was unable to accurately judge his height over the runway. He stated that this was compounded by the light color of the new concrete runway which had snow blowing across it. A hard landing resulted after which the pilot taxied the airplane to the ramp. The right wing sustained substantial damage during the landing. The pilot stated that the de-ice systems on the airplane were working, but they could not keep up with the rate of ice accumulation
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Freezing rain/sleet › Effect on equipment
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusio › Perception › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Windows › windshield system › Flight compartment windows › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,680 hours in all; 1,560 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 8,304 as pilot in command; 160 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 10, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,894 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 31, 2008; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental IO-520-CB7 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental IO-520-CB7 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bemidji Aviation Services INC
The flight
- Departed from: BJI Bemidji MN at 7:00 pm
- Destination: ANE Anoka MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 16, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 2.5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from BRD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N70DD the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.