- Date
- May 17, 1991, 19:20 local (23:20 UTC)
- Place
- Perry, GA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N42WEBeech 55
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910517016429A
- Case key
- 8406
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Improper in-flight planning/decision by the pilot in command (CFI). The improper procedure of turning the fuel selector valve to 'off' at altitude to simulate a failed engine, then delaying restarting of the engine until the aircraft was on final approach was a factor related to the accident.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The instructor pilot stated that in order to simulate an engine failure, he turned the fuel selector for the right engine to the 'off' position. He stated that at some point during the approach to the airfield he returned the fuel selector to the 'on' position and restarted the right engine. He left the power on the right engine at a low power setting, to continue to simulate a failed engine. At about 30 feet a go-around was executed, and both engines responded for about 30 seconds. After 30 seconds, the right engine failed and the aircraft would not climb on one engine. In order to avoid power lines, the pilot elected to attempt a forced landing in a field. During the forced landing the right wing contacted the terrain and the aircraft crashed. The aircraft pilot's manual states that single engine demonstrations should be accomplished using the power and propeller levers and should be accomplished at 5000 feet above ground level.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N42WE
- Reported as
- Beech 55
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- TF-42
- Airframe hours
- 12,416
- Engine
- Continental IO-470-L9B, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Potter, Douglas A.
- Registered owner
- Robins Afb Aero Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 4, 1991 · 13 hours before
- Departed
- WRB · Warner Robins, GA
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- 54A · Perry-Fort Valley, runway 36, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 38
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,478 total · 118 in this make and model · 1,419 as pilot in command · 226 in the last 90 days · 98 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MCN, 12 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.