Beech 58 accident near Sisters, Oregon, May 5, 2018
On May 5, 2018, a 1982 Beech 58, registered N222BD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Sisters, Oregon (Sisters Eagle Air airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 sufficient altitude during approach in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in an attempted rejected landing and a runway undershoot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 2018
- Place
- Sisters, Oregon · Sisters Eagle Air · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 P, built 1982 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N222BD · registry record · serial TJ-409
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot performed a steep approach over tree-covered descending terrain to the tree-lined runway. He reported that, on the approach, the airplane "encountered significant low-level wind shear and sink" about 800 ft before the runway. He aborted the landing, but the airplane impacted the ground 150 ft short of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both engine mounts and the right-wing spar. The AWOS located on the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 250° at 13 knots, gusting to 22 knots. The density altitude was reported as 4,000 ft, and the pilot landed on runway 20, which was 3,560 ft long. The airport facility directory stated that runway 20 has a nonstandard entry due to rising terrain at the approach end, along with 81-ft-tall trees that were 560 ft from the approach end of the runway. In the recommendation section of the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by avoiding nonstandard or steep approaches to runway 20 in gusting wind conditions. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Other weather encounter during approach
- Landing area undershoot during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,653 hours in all; 900 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 241,088 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 19, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,296 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 5, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 6,240 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-520-WB (piston); 1,514 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO-520-WB (piston); 1,360 hours total
- Operator: B2 Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: APC Napa CA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: 6K5 Sisters OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 3,560 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 13, 2018. 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 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Sisters Eagle Air Airport - AWOS Data | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photo | 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.