Beech 300 accident near Chinle, Arizona, August 5, 2025
On August 5, 2025 at about 6:45 pm local time, a 1988 Beech 300, registered N534AW, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Chinle, Arizona (Chinle Municipal Airport). It was a positioning flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 4 people were killed.
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 2025 · about 6:45 pm local time · cases in 2025
- Place
- Chinle, Arizona · Chinle Municipal Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Beech 300, built 1988 · all 300s on the register
- Registration
- N534AW · registry record · serial FA154
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 5, 2025, about 1245 mountain daylight time, a Beech 300, N534AW, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Chinle, Arizona. The pilot, co-pilot and two medical crew members were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 positioning flight. Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data and air traffic control radar data showed that the airplane departed Albuquerque International Sunport Airport (ABQ) Albuquerque, New Mexico about 1155, climbed to 18,000 ft mean sea level (msl) and proceeded direct to Chinle Municipal Airport (E91) Chinle, Arizona. About 1229 the airplane began a descent and about 1239, the airplane entered the traffic pattern on the downwind leg for runway 36. About 1240, while about 6,600 ft, the airplane turned right and entered the base leg. The last radar data point recorded the airplane about 6,100 ft, and about 2.8 miles southeast of the runway 36 threshold. According to a witness, who was located about one quarter mile from the airport, he observed the airplane on a northbound heading over the runway while flying about 180 ft above ground level (agl). The left wing banked erratically multiple times and then leveled off, at which time the airplane pitched up. The left wing then dropped into a knife edge attitude, while the airplane descended to the ground and immediately erupted in flames. The airplane impacted open terrain about 990 ft west of runway 36 at an elevation of about 5,510 ft. A path of disturbed terrain and vegetation extended about 281 ft from the main wreckage and included multiple airframe components. A postaccident fire thermally damaged the fuselage and wings. A cockpit voice recorder was recovered from the airplane and shipped to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory for download. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility 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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 14,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Csi Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ Albuquerque NM
- Destination: IWA Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36, 6,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 270° at 14 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.38 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KRQE, 37 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KRQE 051853Z AUTO 27014G28KT 10SM CLR 32/M01 A3038 RMK AO2 PK WND 25028/1849 SLP139 T03171006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N534AW on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft 300 King Air 300 131 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Chinle Municipal · nearest airport
- Albuquerque International Sunport · departed from
- Mesa Gateway Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 468 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,430 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR25FA240.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.