Beechcraft · 1970–2005
Beechcraft Baron 58 (1970-2005)
Specifications
Cruise
200KTAS
Range
1480nm
Seats
6
Useful Load
1850lbs
Full-fuel payload
686lbs
Fuel Burn
27gph
Fuel Cap.
194gal
MPG
8.5mpg
Stall (Vs0)
75KIAS
T/O roll
1380ft
Ldg roll
820ft
Power
600hp
Engine
piston twin
Gear
Retractable
IFR
Yes
Category
certified
Pricing
Typical
$295k
Range
$180k – $580k
Annual all-in
~$40k/yr
All-in estimate at ~100 flying hours a year — fuel, annual inspection, engine reserve, insurance, and hangar. It scales with your actual hours, and insurance and hangar vary most by region and pilot.
Cost to own — estimate
Set your yearly hours and local fuel price. Fixed costs (insurance, hangar, annual inspection) don't change with hours; fuel and the engine reserve do.
- Fuel (27 gph)
- $17,550
- Engine reserve (toward overhaul)
- $5,882
- Fixed (insurance, hangar, annual, subscriptions)
- $16,568
- Total per year
- $40,000
- Per flight hour
- $400
- Miles flown / year (at cruise)
- 23,016 mi
- Cost per mile
- $1.74/mi
Estimate, not a quote — insurance and hangar (the fixed bucket) vary most by region and pilot. Anchored to our model figure at 100 hrs and $6.50/gal.
Strengths
- Dual cargo doors enable stretcher/bulk loading and flexible passenger access
- 200+ KTAS cruise with 6-seat comfort; gold standard for owner-flown light twins
- IO-550-C engines (1984+) offer improved reliability and 300 HP per side
- 2,500+ produced; strong parts/support ecosystem and resale market
Weaknesses
- Cargo door seals prone to deterioration; water intrusion and cold drafts in rear cabin
- IO-520-C engines (pre-1984) have known top-end cylinder issues at mid-time
- Single-engine ceiling only 7,400 ft; requires careful performance planning
- 58TC/58P variants cost significantly more to maintain (turbo, pressurization) for modest speed gain
Overview
The 1970 Beechcraft Baron 58 was the stretched, cargo-door successor to the Baron 55 -- 10 inches longer fuselage, dual cargo doors on the right side (similar to the A36 Bonanza), and 285 HP per side as standard. The 58 quickly became the most popular Baron variant and remained in production through 2005 in this pre-G58 configuration, with a G1000-equipped G58 succeeding it for current production.
Approximately 2,500 Baron 58s (and 58TC/58P pressurized variants) were produced through 2005. The Baron 58 has been described as the gold standard for owner-flown light twins -- comfortable 6-seat cabin, dual cargo doors for cargo flexibility, twin-engine redundancy, and 200+ KTAS cruise performance.
The Cargo Door Advantage
The 58's signature feature is dual right-side cargo doors (one for cargo, one for passengers in the rear). These doors enable:
- Stretcher loading for medical missions
- Bulk cargo without disassembly
- Easier passenger boarding/deplaning in three rows
- Photo/survey installations
This cargo door arrangement, shared with the A36/G36 single-engine sibling, sets the Baron 58 apart from the 55 series (single left door only) and most competitor twins (Cessna 310, Piper Aztec).
Variants & History
| Variant | Years | Engine | HP each | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58 | 1970-1983 | Continental IO-520-C | 285 | Standard 58, most produced |
| 58 (post-1984) | 1984-2005 | Continental IO-550-C | 300 | Higher HP, refined |
| 58TC | 1976-1984 | Continental TSIO-520-WB | 325 each | Turbocharged variant |
| 58P | 1976-1984 | Continental TSIO-520-WB | 325 each | Pressurized cabin |
The NA 58 (1984-2005 with IO-550) is the most desirable common variant -- improved cylinder reliability over IO-520 and 15 HP more power per side.
2002 Beechcraft Baron 58
G500 TXi · GTN 750 · Known-Ice · Air Conditioning
Performance
Representative 58 (1984+ IO-550-C 300 HP per side):
- Cruise: 200 KTAS at 7,500 ft (75% power)
- Climb: 1,700 FPM at gross
- Single-engine ceiling: 7,400 ft
- Fuel burn: 27 GPH cruise (13.5 GPH per side)
- Range: 1,480 NM with 194 gal fuel
- Useful load: 1,850 lbs
58TC/58P performance at FL200: 220 KTAS cruise, 1,450 NM range -- significantly faster than NA 58 but with much higher maintenance complexity due to turbo + pressurization.
1979 Beechcraft Baron 58
Low-Time Engines · Dual Aspen · Tip Tanks
Valuation Factors
| Variant | Condition | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| 58 (IO-520, pre-1984) | Flying but tired | $160,000-$235,000 |
| 58 (IO-520, pre-1984) | Well-maintained | $230,000-$330,000 |
| 58 (IO-550, 1984-1995) | Well-maintained | $260,000-$420,000 |
| 58 (IO-550, 1996-2005) | Well-maintained | $360,000-$580,000 |
| 58TC | Well-maintained | $200,000-$330,000 |
| 58P | Well-maintained | $240,000-$390,000 |
58TC/58P discount to NA 58 reflects market consensus that turbo + pressurization complexity outweighs the speed/altitude benefit for most owner-flown operations -- a meaningful contrast to single-engine markets where turbo variants often command premium.
ADs & Common Problems
Universal Baron pre-buy concerns apply. 58-specific:
- Cargo door seals: Right-side double doors have complex sealing; deterioration causes water intrusion and rear-cabin cold drafts.
- Engine matching: As with Baron 55, both engines should be similar TBO position.
- Continental IO-520 vs IO-550: Pre-1984 IO-520 known for top-end cylinder issues at mid-time. IO-550 (1984+) is meaningfully more reliable.
- 58TC turbocharger condition: 58TCs require especially careful turbo inspection; turbo replacement: $5,000-$10,000 per side.
- 58P pressurization vessel condition: Cabin pressure vessel must be tested. Pressurization leak repairs are specialized and expensive.
- AD 2002-26-04 (forward bulkhead): Applies to Baron 58; verify compliance.
- Spar carry-through corrosion: As with 55-series, inspect carefully.