Beech A23-19 accident near Rochester, Minnesota, March 10, 2025
On March 10, 2025 at about 3:15 am local time, a 1967 Beech A23-19, registered N4784J, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Rochester, Minnesota (Rochester International Airpor airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 10, 2025 · about 3:15 am local time
- Place
- Rochester, Minnesota · Rochester International Airpor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23-19, built 1967 · all A23-19s on the register
- Registration
- N4784J · registry record · serial MB-220
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 9, 2025, about 2215 central daylight time, a Beech A23-19, N4784J, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rochester, Minnesota. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that during the initial climb, about 650 ft above ground level, the engine had a complete loss of power. He stated that the engine did not sputter, and he heard a “click click” sound before the engine lost power. The pilot declared an emergency and attempted to restart the engine before executing a forced landing. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted trees which resulted in substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. The airplane was retained for further examination.
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 engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,670 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 2024; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Airlake Aero INC
The flight
- Departed from: LVN Lakeville MN at 2:00 am
- Destination: RST Rochester MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from KRST, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRST 090354Z 27009KT 10SM CLR 01/M02 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP155 T00111022=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 CEN25LA114.