Beech 58P accident near Lubbock, Texas, March 17, 2023
On March 17, 2023 at about 4:40 pm local time, a 1978 Beech 58P, registered N2061K, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Lubbock, Texas (Lubbock Executive Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to ensure a proper fuel selector position before takeoff, which resulted in a loss of left engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control after the loss of left engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 2023 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Lubbock, Texas · Lubbock Executive Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58P, built 1978 · all 58Ps on the register
- Registration
- N2061K · registry record · serial TJ-161
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot landed at the departure airport and dropped off passengers before the accident flight. The pilot then left the airplane while it was being fueled and returned after fueling was completed. The pilot walked around the airplane while talking on a cellular phone, which was not consistent with a proper preflight inspection of the airplane due to his diverted attention. After the engines were started, the airplane taxied to the departure runway. A witness stated that he did not see or hear an engine run-up before takeoff. The witness said the airplane’s takeoff was normal and later heard an audible change in engine sound after it had become airborne. Surveillance video recorded the airplane in a nose-down, left bank attitude before entering a left roll into an inverted attitude and impacting the ground. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left cockpit fuel selector was in the OFF position, which likely led to fuel starvation and a loss of left engine power. Additionally, the left engine propeller exhibited features of low/no power. The right propeller exhibited features consistent with higher power and a blade angle near takeoff/climb power. The initial left roll of the airplane likely resulted from the loss of left engine power. Examination of the engines revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. Flight control continuity of the airplane was confirmed and the continued left roll after the loss of left engine power indicated a loss of control by the pilot.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Fuel starvation during initial climb defining event
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Incorrect use/operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Engine out control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 920 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 6,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO-520-WB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KLBB, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLBB 171553Z 05010G17KT 10SM BKN075 03/M08 A3026 RMK AO2 SLP249 T00331083
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
25 documents, released by the NTSB on August 7, 2024. 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 | FBO Surveillance Video Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | FBO Surveillance Video - Aircraft Arrival on FBO Ramp at 1111 | DAV file | Download |
| 3 | FBO Surveillance Video - Pilot and Passengers Exit Aircraft | DAV file | Download |
| 4 | FBO Surveillance Video - Pilot Returns for Baggage and Fuel Truck Pulls Up to Aircraft at 1116 | DAV file | Download |
| 5 | FBO Surveillance Video - Fuelling of Aircraft Completed at 1123 | DAV file | Download |
| 6 | FBO Surveillance Video - Pilot Walked Out of the FBO Building and Onto the Ramp at 1127 | DAV file | Download |
| 7 | FBO Surveillance Video - Pilot Walking Around Aircraft at 1128 | DAV file | Download |
| 8 | FBO Surveillance Video - Pilot Walking Around Aircraft at 1129 | DAV file | Download |
| 9 | FBO Surveillance Video - Pilot Walking Around Aircraft at 1129 to Engine Start and Taxi | DAV file | Download |
| 10 | FBO Surveillance Video - Aircraft Hold Short and Takeoff Runway 35 at 1136-1137 | DAV file | Download |
| 11 | FBO Surveillance Video - Aircraft Takeoff Roll and Lift-off | DAV file | Download |
| 12 | Surveillance Video Summary A�� Jimmy Mclearen | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 13 | Surveillance Video of Flight - Provided by Jimmy Mclearen | MOV file | Download |
| 14 | Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast Plot | map file | Download |
| 15 | Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast Data | spreadsheet | Download |
| 16 | Record of Examination | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 17 | EFIS - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 18 | Personal Electronic Device - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 19 | Twin Engine Initial/recurrent Training Syllabus Completion | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 20 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation - Textron | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 21 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation - Hartzell Propeller | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 22 | Aircraft Logbook Excerpts | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 23 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 24 | Photos | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 25 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | 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.
