# NTSB CEN20CA062: Beech 76, N6630D, St. Charles, MO, January 16, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 16, 2020, 12:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: St. Charles, MO
- Coordinates: 38.929164, -90.430831 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9292&lon=-90.4308&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 16, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100826
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA062
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100826/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100826
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA062

## Probable cause

The pilot receiving instruction’s misunderstanding of the flight instructor’s instruction and the pilot's and the instructor’s insufficient use of rudder while adding power to the operating engine, which resulted in the airplane rolling left and the wing striking the ground. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Communication (personnel): interpretation/understanding](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063530): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 76, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063530/cases.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063530/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 76, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 76, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 76, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 76, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Flight control system: rudder control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 76, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 93 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 76, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Beech 76, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 76, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Beech 76, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech 76, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Beech 76, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot receiving instruction and flight instructor were performing a zero-thrust, single-engine, full-stop landing when a sink rate developed on final approach. Subsequently, the instructor told the pilot to "add a small amount of power to the right operating engine." The pilot misunderstood the instruction as "abort" and added full power to the right engine to abort the landing. The airplane rolled left, and the instructor added right rudder to arrest the roll. The left wing hit the ground; the airplane rotated left, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing; and the landing gear collapsed. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot and flight instructor had completed about two hours of multi-engine flight training and were performing a "zero thrust, single engine" full stop landing. A sink rate developed on final approach and the flight instructor told the pilot to "add a small amount of power to the right operating engine." The pilot misunderstood the instruction as "abort" and added full power to the right engine to abort the landing. The airplane rolled left and the flight instructor added right rudder to arrest the roll. The left wing hit the ground and the airplane rotated left on the ground, substantially damaging the airplane's left wing and collapsing the three landing gear. Neither pilot was injured. There were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6630D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6630D-2021-07-09), registration cancelled 2021-07-09, S/N ME-221, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Beech 76 (No Series)
- Registry model: [Beech 76](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-76) (registry code 1153005) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: ME-221
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 8478
- Engines: Amateur/Experimental Unknown 180 horsepower reciprocating; Amateur/Experimental Unknown 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: St Charles Flying Service Inc
- Registered owner: St Charles Flying Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 6, 2020, 10 hours before
- Departed: SET, St. Charles, MO
- Destination: SET, St. Charles, MO
- Airport: SET, St Charles County Smartt, runway 36, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 9, 2019; seat: left; flight hours: 461 total, 2 in this make and model, 406 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Flight instructor; age 72; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 2, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 15,788 total, 706 in this make and model, 97 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 30.75 inHg

## 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 20200116000079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200116000079A), Jan 16, 2020: Beech 76, St Charles, MO, Substantial damage. 2.2 Hours of lessons were conducted prior to the accident. The aircraft was landing on runway 36. The student was receiving multi engine training. This lesson…

## Other investigations on N6630D (1)

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.

- [NTSB ATL02LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA142), Jul 14, 2002: Beech BE-76 (N6630D), Atlanta, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing.

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 26, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100826. 3.0 MB in all.

- Photos (item 1, .PDF, 369 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480796&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF
- Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480797&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Memorandum of Conversation - CFI (item 3, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480798&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20-%20CFI-Master.PDF
- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 4, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480799&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.