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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 28, 2021 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Davenport, Iowa · Davenport · 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
Other NTSB records under N217US the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN21LA118.