Beech 50 accident near Sheldon, Missouri, April 26, 2019
On April 26, 2019 at about 7:55 pm local time, a 1957 Beech 50, registered N29Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Sheldon, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power on both engines due to detonation for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2019 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Sheldon, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 50 E50, built 1957
- Registration
- N29Y · registry record · serial EH-16
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was returning the multiengine airplane to his home base following an annual inspection other maintenance; the accident flight was the airplane's first flight since the work was performed. After climbing to about 3,000 ft mean sea level (msl), the pilot configured the airplane for cruise flight. The pilot heard the right engine emit "sputtering" noises and backfire. The pilot advanced the throttle of the left engine and then noticed a "large smoke trail" emit from the left engine about 1 minute after the right engine began sputtering. The pilot concluded that the two engines were no longer producing adequate power to remain airborne and performed a forced landing to a tilled dirt field, during which the nose landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage. Signatures consistent with detonation were documented on the left engine Nos. 4 and 6 cylinder assemblies, and the right engine No. 2 cylinder assembly. Oil-covered particles were found in the oil screens from both engines; the source of these particles could not be determined. The reason for the detonation in both engines could not be determined based on the available evidence.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during prior to flight
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during enroute (cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Malfunction
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Damaged/degraded
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,288 hours in all; 119 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1,174 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 11, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming Engines GS-480 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming Engines GS-480 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 87K El Dorado Springs MO at 7:45 pm
- Destination: PTS Pittsburg KS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from KPTS, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on October 16, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation - Federal Aviation Administration | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Pilot Email Question | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Most Recent Maintenance Records | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | NTSB Airframe and Engine Examination Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 19-040 | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Additional Documents - Textron Aviation/lycoming Engines/detonation | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 9 | NTSB Party Member Forms | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.