Beech B19 accident near Twin Falls, Idaho, March 18, 2021
On March 18, 2021 at about 6:30 am local time, a 1973 Beech B19, registered N1956W, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Twin Falls, Idaho (Joslin Fld - Magic Valley Rgnl airport). It was a personal 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 airplane control during initial climb with a crosswind when the airspeed decreased, the airplane exceeded its critical angle of attack and aerodynamical stalled at too low an altitude for the pilot to recover before the airplane descended and landed hard.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 2021 · about 6:30 am local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Twin Falls, Idaho · Joslin Fld - Magic Valley Rgnl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B19 NO SERIES, built 1973 · all B19s on the register
- Registration
- N1956W · registry record · serial MB-620
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the initial climb from runway 08 with a crosswind, the airplane attained an altitude of about 50 ft above ground level when it encountered low level wind shear. The airspeed decreased, and the airplane stalled. The pilot attempted to recover airspeed by lowering the nose, but there was not enough altitude or time. The airplane subsequently landed hard substantially damaging the right wing and aft fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. About the time of the accident the reported wind was from 180o at 18 knots.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb
- Windshear or thunderstorm during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 79.7 hours in all; 79.7 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,366 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 2020; 77.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,154 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 2,366 hours total
The flight
- Destination: BMC Brigham City UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 8,703 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 180° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KTWF
Weather report (METAR): METAR KTWF 190553Z AUTO 18018KT 10SM FEW120 12/M04 A2996 RMK AO2 PK WND 18026/0544 SLP115 T01171039 10189 20100 58006=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 21, 2021. 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 | Weather and Performance Information | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Summary of Findings NTSB | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos-- Courtesy of the FAA | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N1956W on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft B-19 Sport 147 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D 65 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Joslin Fld/Magic Valley Regional · nearest airport
- Brigham City Regional · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Idaho 1,535 since 1982 · 287 in the last ten years
- Idaho 4,199 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR21LA139.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.