Crash of a Beechcraft 300 Super King Air off Vero Beach

Date & Time: May 12, 2026 at 1205 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HP-1859
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Marsh Harbour – Freeport
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was en route from Marsh Harbour to Freeport, an internal flight within Bahamas. For unknown reasons, the pilot declared an emergency and was forced to ditch the airplane some 80 km east of Vero Beach, Florida. All 10 occupants were rescued, among them three were injured. The airplane sank and was lost.

Crash of a Beechcraft B300 Super King Air in Chinle: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 5, 2025 at 1240 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N534AW
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Albuquerque – Chinle
MSN:
FA-154
YOM:
1988
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was approaching Chinle Municipal Airport when it crashed for unknown reasons on a small road, bursting into flames. All four occupants, two pilots and two medical crew, were killed. They were en route to Chinle to pick up a patient from a nearby hospital.

Crash of a Beechcraft 300 Super King Air in Tucson: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 2017 at 1233 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N385KA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tucson - Hermosillo
MSN:
FA-42
YOM:
1985
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
15100
Aircraft flight hours:
9962
Circumstances:
The pilot and the passenger departed on a cross-country, personal flight in the airplane that the operator had purchased the day before the accident. Shortly after takeoff from runway 11L, after reaching an altitude of about 100 to 150 ft above the runway in a nose-high pitch attitude, the airplane rolled left to an inverted position as its nose dropped, and it descended to terrain impact on airport property, consistent with an aerodynamic stall. Post-accident examination of the accident site revealed propeller strike marks separated at distances consistent with both propellers rotating at the speed required for takeoff and in a normal blade angle range of operation at impact. Both engines exhibited rotational scoring signatures that indicated the engines were producing symmetrical power and were most likely operating in the mid-to upper-power range at impact. The engines did not display any pre-impact anomalies or distress that would have precluded normal engine operation before impact. No evidence was found of any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Toxicology testing revealed the pilot's use of multiple psychoactive substances including marijuana, venlafaxine, amphetamine, pseudoephedrine, clonazepam, and pheniramine. The wide variety of psychoactive effects of these medications precludes predicting the specific effects of their use in combination. However, it is likely that the pilot was impaired by the effects of the combination of psychoactive substances he was using and that those effects contributed to his loss of control. The investigation was unable to obtain medical records regarding any underlying neuropsychiatric disease(s); therefore, whether these may have contributed to the accident circumstances could not be determined.
Probable cause:
The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment by the effects of a combination of psychoactive substances.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 300 Super King Air in Porto Seguro

Date & Time: Apr 21, 2016 at 1140 LT
Registration:
PT-MCM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Porto Seguro
MSN:
FA-52
YOM:
1985
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8000
Captain / Total hours on type:
1000.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Porto Seguro-Terravista Golf Club Airport Runway 15, the twin engine aircraft descended too low, causing the left main gear to impact the ground short of runway threshold. On impact, the left main landing gear was torn off. The aircraft slid on runway for few dozen metres then veered to the left and came to a halt. All 10 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The following factors were identified:
- Application of the commands - contributed
There was no effective action on the aircraft controls during the final approach to avoid a brutal impact with the ground prior to the runway threshold.
- Adverse weather conditions - undetermined
It is possible that the aircraft was under the effect of the phenomenon known as windshear, which affected the approach profil and the subsequent impact with the ground short of runway.
- Pilot judgement - contributed
The risks of a possible windshear during the final approach were not adequately considered by the pilot. The decision to proceed for the landing, to the detriment of the alternative recommended by experts to perform a missed approach, proved decisive for the development of the accident.
Final Report: