# NTSB CEN25LA114: Beech A23-19, N4784J, Rochester, MN, March 10, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: March 9, 2025, 22:15 local (Mar 10, 2025, 03:15 UTC)
- Place: Rochester, MN
- Coordinates: 43.922193, -92.500569 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9222&lon=-92.5006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199824
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA114
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199824/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA114

## Preliminary report

On March 9, 2025, about 2215 central daylight time, a Beech A23-19, N4784J, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rochester, Minnesota. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that during the initial climb, about 650 ft above ground level, the engine had a complete loss of power. He stated that the engine did not sputter, and he heard a “click click” sound before the engine lost power. The pilot declared an emergency and attempted to restart the engine before executing a forced landing. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted trees which resulted in substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. The airplane was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A23-19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151212), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4784J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4784J), registered now, S/N MB-220, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A23-19
- Registry model: [Beech A23-19](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a23-19) (registry code 1151212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: MB-220
- Year built: 1967
- Airframe hours: 4670
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Airlake Aero Inc
- Registered owner: Airlake Aero Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 2024, 79 hours before
- Departed: LVN, Lakeville, MN
- Destination: RST, Rochester, MN
- Airport: RST, Rochester International Airport
- Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: KRST, 1 nm away
- METAR: METAR KRST 090354Z 27009KT 10SM CLR 01/M02 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP155 T00111022=

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20250309002459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250309002459A), Mar 9, 2025: Beech A23-19, Rochester, MN, Substantial damage. On Sunday, March 9, 2025 at approximately 2100 CDT, the PIC was preparing a for flight, refueled, stating fuel levels were then close to full on both (29 in…

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.