CEN25LA368

NTSB accident investigation · Beech 35-C33 · Brookings, SD · September 6, 2025

Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary report
Date
September 6, 2025, 08:59 local (13:59 UTC)
Place
Brookings, SD
Injuries
3 minor
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N1310ABeech 35-C33
Defining event
Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Investigation ongoing
Investigation class
Class 3
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20250906019509A
Case key
200953

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Preliminary report

What NTSB knew early in the investigation. It may change in the final report.

On September 6, 2025, about 0859 central daylight time, a Beech 35-C33 airplane, N1310A, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Brookings, South Dakota. The pilot and two passengers sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported a moderate vibration began at about 200-300 ft off the ground just after takeoff. He heard a bang and he noted a decrease in engine power and thrust. All the engine instruments looked good except for the rpm gauge which normally would be at 2,500 rpm but was showing only 2,300 rpm. The pilot lowered the nose of the airplane and began a slow turn back toward the airport. He applied full throttle, but it did not change anything. At one point the pilot heard the stall horn and leveled the airplane. He realized he would not make the airport and aimed at a grass clearing. During the landing the front right seat passenger was knocked unconscious. After the airplane came to a stop a post impact fire ensued. The pilot and rear seat passenger were able to extricate the unconscious passenger out of the airplane. The pilot dialed 9-1-1 and handed his phone to the rear seat passenger who had lost his phone in the cockpit, to complete the call. The pilot and the other passenger, who had regained consciousness, crawled into some tall wet grass to put further separation between themselves and the fire. The airplane was destroyed by the post-impact fire that consumed most of the fuselage and a portion of both wings. The airplane was recovered for further examination.

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Aircraft

Registration
N1310A
Reported as
Beech 35-C33
Category
Airplane
Serial number
CD-1105
Built
1967
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Departed
BKX · Brookings, SD
Destination
BZN · Bozeman, MT
Airport
BKX

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
310° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
7,000 ft overcast
Temperature
48 °F, dew point 45 °F
Altimeter
30.12 inHg
Observed at
KBKX, 1 nm away
METAR
KBKX 061356Z AUTO 31006KT 10SM OVC070 09/07 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP219 T00940067

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N1310A · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.