Beech 300 accident near Davenport, Iowa, January 28, 2021
On January 28, 2021 at about 10:10 pm local time, a 2007 Beech 300, registered N217US, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Davenport, Iowa (Davenport airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, and the flight instructor’s inadequate oversight during a simulated engine out takeoff that resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a snowbank.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 28, 2021 · about 10:10 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Davenport, Iowa · Davenport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 300, built 2007 · all 300s on the register
- Registration
- N217US · registry record · serial FL-519
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during a simulated engine failure after decision speed (V1) takeoff, when the flight instructor reduced power on the airplane’s left engine during the takeoff roll, the airplane yawed left and veered toward the left edge of the runway where there was packed snow. The pilot reported that he applied right rudder and back pressure to rotate the airplane as the instructor pilot added right rudder with his set of rudder pedals. The instructor pilot reported he then attempted to restore left engine power as the airplane struck a snowbank on the edge of the runway. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and came to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine nacelles and the fuselage. The left engine was separated from the airplane and the right engine remained attached by skin. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The instructor pilot reported that the flight’s purpose was for the pilot to conduct training in a twin-engine turboprop airplane, in preparation of an upcoming checkride. The plan was to simulate an engine failure during the takeoff roll, after passing takeoff decision speed (V1). He added that the plan was briefed the day prior and that the speeds were calculated and confirmed in the primary flight display (PFD) before the takeoff. The instructor pilot added that the runway was plowed 75 ft wide, with patches of packed snow near the edges.
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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Simulated/training event during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Snow/ice › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 19,112 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 73 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 18,340 as pilot in command; 115 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 23, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,769 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,650 as pilot in command; 909 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,214.1 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 21, 2020
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P &W PT-6A-60A (turboprop); 3,214 hours total
- Engine 2: P &W PT-6A-60A (turboprop); 3,214 hours total
- Operator: Carver Aero
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,511 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.59 inHg
- Observation at 4:10 pm from KDVN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 1, 2021. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Instructor) | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Pilot) | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photo | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N217US the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N217US on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft 300 King Air 300 131 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: P &W PT-6A-60A · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: P &W PT-6A-60A · as the NTSB recorded it
- Davenport Municipal · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Iowa 871 since 1982 · 131 in the last ten years
- Iowa 4,513 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N217US 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN21LA118.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.