Beech 58P accident near Bow, Washington, February 23, 2006
On February 23, 2006 at about 2:54 am local time, a Beech 58P, registered N469MD, was destroyed in an accident near Bow, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the climb to cruise. Contributing factors included a loss of engine power to the right engine folowing a turbocharger failure, instrument meteorological and dark night conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 2006 · about 2:54 am local time
- Place
- Bow, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58P · all 58Ps on the register
- Registration
- N469MD · no longer on the register · serial TJ-331
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Approximately 11 minutes after takeoff on a night instrument flight rules flight plan, the pilot of the twin-engine airplane radioed air traffic control (ATC) that he was climbing out of 7,800 feet. Shortly thereafter, ATC received a "mayday" transmission followed by "lost an engine." Subsequently, radio communications and radar contact with the airplane were lost. Witnesses reported they observed the airplane in an unusually steep descent prior to impacting terrain. One witness stated he heard a high-pitched noise emanating from the airplane as it descended toward the ground. The wreckage was located in an open field adjacent to a highway. The main wreckage was located in the confines of a large impact crater approximately 15 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep. Dark night conditions with low ceilings prevailed at the time of the accident. Post-accident teardown and examination of both engines revealed no evidence of excessive wear or operational failure of internal engine components. Extensive damage, however, was noted to the right turbocharger assembly. Disassembly of the component revealed damage to the compressor wheel and compressor housing shroud. Circumferential scuffing and pockmarks were noted to the inner compressor housing, and impact type damage and smearing were noted to the individual compressor blades. Scuffing type damage was noted to the turbine wheel and corresponding turbine housing. Additional damage was noted to the turbine/compressor input shaft, and associated journals and bearings. Foreign material was found in the compressor housing and turbocharger after cooler. The material consisted of aluminum fragments, a rivet head, a piece of brass, paint chips, rubber, gasket material and dirt. The manufacturer of the turbo assembly examined the unit and reported the damage was consistent with FOD (foreign object damage) and lubricant starvation. The exact sequence of events leading to the failure of the turbocharger was not determined.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,500 hours in all
- Last flight review: October 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,401 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 6,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BLI Bellingham WA at 2:43 am
- Destination: OGD Ogden UT
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; a few clouds at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 am from KBVS, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.