# NTSB ATL85LA201: Beech 76, N6002P, Morgantown, WV, June 30, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 30, 1985, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: Morgantown, WV
- Location: 39.6436° N, 79.9175° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MORGANTOWN MUNI/WALTER L BILL HART FLD (MGW), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6436&lon=-79.9175&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6819
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85LA201
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6819/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA201

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - miscellaneous - intentional, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - mixture - improper use of
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff

## Analysis

THE CFI & DUAL STUDENT WERE ON A FLT TO FAIRMONT, WV SO THE STUDENT COULD RECEIVE A MULTI-ENG FLT EXAM. THE STUDENT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF FROM RWY 18, THE CFI CLOSED THE MIXTURE CONTROL ON THE RIGHT ENG 'TO SIMULATE AN ENGINE FAILURE.'  THE ACFT BEGAN TO YAW TO THE RIGHT & THE STUDENT APPLIED LEFT RUDDER & AILERON TO CORRECT THE YAW. ACCORDING TO THE CFI, THE STUDENT THEN REVERSED THE INPUTS MOMENTARILY & THE ACFT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT. THE CFI THEN DECREASED THE PITCH ATTITUDE OF THE ACFT & LEVELED THE WINGS. HOWEVER, THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND APRX 200 FT WEST OF RWY 18 & WAS DESTROYED BY POST IMPACT FIRE. THE STUDENT STATED THAT THE ACFT HAD REACHED AN ALT OF ABOUT 100 TO 150 FT AGL WHEN THE 'SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE' WAS INITIATED. HE FURTHER STATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON PRACTICE FOR THE CFI TO SIMULATE AN ENG FAILURE BY CLOSING THE MIXTURE CONTROL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6002P (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 76
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: ME-125
- Airframe hours: 1100
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1G6D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Pro Aero
- Registered owner: John W. Campbell
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 10, 1985, 95 hours before
- Destination: 4G7, FAIRMONT, WV
- Airport: MGW, Morgantown Muni, runway 18, 5,199 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 6,373 total, 290 in this make and model, 6,270 as pilot in command, 278 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MGW, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850630028649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850630028649A), Jun 30, 1985: Beech 76, Morgantown, WV, Destroyed. CFI pulled mixture to simulate loss of engine on takeoff. Student lost control. Unable to recover. Crashed, burned.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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