N256J

N256J is a Beech 76 Duchess, a twin-engine piston aircraft operated by D GORDON AVIATION INC. SkyMeter has tracked 1,540 flights totalling 1,717 hours of airtime via ADS-B across 2 callsigns. The most frequent segment is KMYF to KMYF. Service window in our records spans 444 days. Of those flights, 100 (6.5%) carry at least one detected incident: a go-around, unstable approach, stall warning, or runway excursion. The Beech 76 Duchess has a 38 ft wingspan, a maximum takeoff weight of 3,900 lb.

About the Beech 76 Duchess

The Beechcraft Duchess is a light twin-engine piston aircraft introduced in 1978, designed specifically as an affordable multi-engine trainer for flight schools and aspiring commercial pilots. Built to compete with the Piper Seminole, the Duchess features counter-rotating propellers (a rarity in its class) that eliminate critical engine concerns and simplify single-engine handling, making it particularly forgiving for students transitioning from single-engine aircraft. Powered by two 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360 engines, the Duchess cruises at around 155 knots and has a service ceiling of 19,650 feet, offering respectable performance for a trainer while remaining economical to operate.

Its T-tail configuration and docile stall characteristics contribute to its reputation as one of the gentlest light twins to fly, though production ended in 1982 after roughly 437 units were built. Despite its relatively short production run, the Duchess remains a staple of multi-engine training programs across North America, valued for its predictable handling and lower operating costs compared to more complex twins. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.