Beechcraft 58

Twin Piston

The Beechcraft Baron 58 is a light twin-engine piston aircraft that has been a staple of general aviation since its introduction in 1969. Built by Beechcraft (now part of Textron Aviation), the Baron 58 evolved from the earlier Model 55 Baron and became the most successful variant in the Baron family, remaining in production for over four decades. With its distinctive V-tail stabilizer option (58P) and later conventional tail, the Baron 58 carved out a niche as a capable six-seat cabin-class twin favored by owner-pilots, air taxi operators, and flight training schools teaching multi-engine ratings. Powered by two Continental IO-520 or IO-550 engines producing 285 to 300 horsepower each, the Baron 58 cruises at around 200 knots and offers a useful load of approximately 1,750 pounds, making it practical for small-group travel with baggage. Its service ceiling of 19,200 feet and range of roughly 1,000 nautical miles positioned it as a serious cross-country machine that could handle weather and terrain better than most single-engine aircraft of its era. The Baron's handling characteristics (responsive controls, good single-engine performance, and solid IFR stability) earned it a reputation as a pilot's airplane, though it demands respect for its higher approach speeds and fuel burn compared to singles. The Baron 58 remains popular on the used market, with many examples upgraded with modern avionics including glass cockpits, known-ice certification, and turbocharged variants (58TC) for high-altitude operations. Its enduring appeal lies in the balance it strikes between performance, comfort, and operating costs, making it a practical step-up for pilots transitioning from high-performance singles or seeking the redundancy of a second engine without the complexity of turbine power. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.