Beechcraft F33A | N8032X
April 25th, 2026 | Crystal, Minnesota
Accident Location
- City: Crystal
- State: Minnesota
- Latitude: 45.065919
- Longitude: -93.361494
- Airport ID: KMIC
Aircraft Info
- N Number: N8032X
- Make: Beechcraft
- Model: F33A
- Aircraft Category: Aircraft Single Engine Land
- Amateur Built: No
Pilot Info
- PIC Name: Cass, Joseph Ralph
- Gender: Male
- Pilot Age: 73
- Pilot Hours:
- Flight School: No
- Instructional Flight: No
- Pilot Certification: Commercial Pilot
- IFR Rating: Yes
- Pilot Error: Yes
- Pilot Medical: Basic Med
- Pilot Incapacitation: No
Analysis
- Date: April 25th, 2026
- Time: 11:45 AM Local Time
- Day / Night: Day
- VMC / IMC: VMC
- Phase Of Flight: Takeoff
- Total People Onboard: 2
- PIC Fatality: 1
- PAX Fatalities: 1
- Ground Fatalities: 0
- Total Fatalities: 2
- NTSB No:
- NTSB Travel: Unknown
- AQP Classification: 21) THE IMPOSSIBLE TURN, U-FIT
Probable Cause
DTSB: The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the accident pilot did attempt the impossible turn after departing on runway 32 and encountering a ROTOT at around 200 feet AGL. The total time from the advancement of power of takeoff power until the crash is 59 seconds. The accident pilot declared his problem to ATC and requested to return to the airport, and was cleared to land on any runway, whereby he turned steeply and aggressively to the left and pulled aft on the yoke, the aircraft stalled, and then entered an aerodynamic spin to the left. Doorbell video and audio show the aircraft in a very steep left turn at approximately 200 feet AGL with the engine cutting in and out just prior to the in flight loss of control. The aircraft impacted terrain nearly vertical, the impact debris field was located inside a circle of less than 25 feet diameter. Ample safe other options were available straight ahead and to his left.
NTSB: NONE
Recommendation
DTSB: The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft rehearse and condition themselves to be ready for ROTOT or LOTOT, and to be fully prepared to land gear up and straight ahead in these scenarios.
NTSB: NONE
DISCLAIMER: All data and Probable Cause listings are “Probable” only. They are based on opinion and educated speculation, and are for educational purposes only. They may contain incorrect information and are subject to change as new information becomes available.