# NTSB ERA20CA239: Beech 76, N20131, Crystal River, FL, July 2, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 2, 2020, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Crystal River, FL
- Coordinates: 28.87, -82.569999 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8700&lon=-82.5700&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101552
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA239
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101552/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101552
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA239

## Probable cause

The flight instructor's delayed remedial action during a simulated engine failure on takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 76, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 76, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 76, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: 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)

## Analysis

The flight instructor was conducting a training flight with the private pilot in the multiengine airplane. The flight instructor said that shortly after the airplane began to accelerate down the runway, she pulled the left throttle to idle to simulate an engine failure on takeoff and the private pilot "froze." She told him to bring the engine power to idle and brake, which he did, but the airplane was already veering left. The flight instructor then took control of the airplane and shut off power to each engine, but the airplane exited the runway and impacted an embankment resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The private pilot said that he responded to the simulated engine failure by removing thrust on both engines, applying the brakes, and trying to maintain directional control; however, "Despite the measures taken, the plane skidded off the runway." The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The flight instructor was conducting a training flight with the private pilot in the multiengine airplane. The flight instructor said that shortly after the airplane began to accelerate down the runway, she pulled the left throttle to idle to simulate an engine failure on takeoff and the private pilot "froze." She told him to bring the engine power to idle and brake, which he did, but the airplane was already veering left. The flight instructor then took control of the airplane and shut off power to each engine, but the airplane exited the runway and impacted an embankment resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The private pilot said that he responded to the simulated engine failure by removing thrust on both engines, applying the brakes, and trying to maintain directional control; however, "Despite the measures taken, the plane skidded off the runway." The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N20131](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20131-2021-07-03), registration cancelled 2021-07-03, S/N ME-82, built 1978 (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: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: ME-82
- Year built: 1978
- Airframe hours: 3968.1
- Engines: Lycoming LO-360-AIG6D 180 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming O-360-AIG6D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 17, 2020, 24 hours before
- Departed: CGC, Crystal River, FL
- Destination: CGC, Crystal River, FL
- Airport: CGC, Crystal River-Captain Tom Davi, runway 27, 4,557 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, ADS-B, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 37; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 17, 2020; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,651 total, 231 in this make and model
- Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 2, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 339 total, 7 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 8 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: CGC

## 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 20200702005529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200702005529A), Jul 2, 2020: Beech 76, Crystal River, FL, Substantial damage. On July 02, 2020 at approximately 1600 EDT flight instruction was being performed in the subject aircraft. During the take-off roll the flight instructor…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101552. 5.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9940026&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Written statement - flight instructor (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9944214&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Jung%20Yeun%20Choi%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Written statement - private pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 620 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9943617&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Oleg%20Zuev%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 532 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9938400&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.

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