# NTSB LAX02LA139: Beech 76, N6636J, Petaluma, CA, April 19, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 18, 2002, 19:10 local (Apr 19, 2002, 02:10 UTC) - Place: Petaluma, CA - Coordinates: 38.210758, -122.760124 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2108&lon=-122.7601&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54553 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54553/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54553 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA139 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's decision to execute a simulated single engine go-around at an altitude insufficient to preclude the inadvertent ground contact of the airplane and the resultant loss of directional control. The flight instructor's delayed remedial action and inadequate supervision of the flight are also causal. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - engine shutdown - simulated - go-around - initiated, dual student - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - touchdown - inadvertent - directional control - not maintained, dual student - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis During the instructional flight, the airplane collided with the ground and collapsed the landing gear during a practice single engine go-around. The flight instructor stated that he had the student do a practice single engine VOR approach to the airport in VFR conditions. The right engine was set to zero thrust for the procedure and the winds were straight down runway 29. They overflew the runway during the approach and circled to enter right traffic. During the approach he had decided to have the student do a single engine go-around. He stated that in hindsight he issued the go-around command at too low an altitude. The airspeed was above Vmc during the go-around; however, due to the low altitude at maneuver initiation, the airplane inadvertently touched down with full power on the left engine, causing the airplane to begin veering to the right. It became airborne again in a nose high, yawing, and right rolling attitude. At this point, he assumed the controls and reduced the power on the left engine. The airplane then settled to the ground in the nose high, yawed, and banked attitude with the right main gear off the pavement. The right main gear and nose gear collapsed. The instructor said that after thinking about the event, he believes that neither he nor the student were making aggressive enough control inputs to correct the situation in the early stages, and he may have waited too long before assuming control. He stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or system failures with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 18, 2002, at 1910 Pacific daylight time, a Beech 76, N6636J, collided with the ground and collapsed the landing gear during a practice single engine go-around at the Petaluma, California, airport. The airplane was operated by Sierra Academy of Aeronautics under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, and was on a local area instructional flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot flight instructor, the commercial licensed multiengine student, and one additional passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated at the Oakland International Airport, Oakland, California, at 1840. The flight instructor was interviewed by telephone concerning the accident on April 19, 2002. He stated that he was the flight instructor on board the aircraft at the time of the accident. The flight departed the Oakland airport at 1840 for a local area training flight with a multiengine student in the left seat and one additional student in the rear observing. The left seated student held a commercial certificate with ratings for single engine airplanes and instruments and was in a course to qualify for a multiengine add-on rating. After performing some airwork, the instructor had the student do a practice single engine VOR approach to the Petaluma airport in VFR conditions. The right engine was set to zero thrust for the procedure and the winds were straight down runway 29. They overflew the runway during the approach and circled to enter right traffic. During the approach he had decided to have the student do a single engine go-around. He stated that in hindsight he issued the go-around command at too low an altitude. The airspeed was above Vmc during the go-around; however, due to the low altitude at maneuver initiation, the airplane inadvertently touched down with full power on the left engine, causing the airplane to begin veering to the right. It became airborne again in a nose high, yawing, and right rolling attitude. At this point, he assumed the controls and reduced the power on the left engine. The airplane then settled to the ground in the nose high, yawed, and banked attitude with the right main gear off the pavement. The right main gear and nose gear collapsed. The instructor said that after thinking about the event, he believes that neither he nor the student were making aggressive enough control inputs to correct the situation in the early stages, and he may have waited too long before assuming control. He stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or system failures with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6636J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6636J-2013-08-20), registration cancelled 2013-08-20, S/N ME-255, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 76 - 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-255 - Airframe hours: 4056 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1G6D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Sierra Academy of Aeronautics - Registered owner: Christiansen Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 20, 2002, 35 hours before - Departed: KOAK, Oakland, CA - Destination: O69, PETALUMA, CA - Airport: O69, Petaluma Municipal, runway 29, 3,600 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 7, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 1,035 total, 103 in this make and model, 943 as pilot in command, 196 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 11, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 318 total, 18 in this make and model, 185 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 310° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KSTS, 15 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 20020418006109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020418006109A), Apr 18, 2002: Beech 76, Petaluma, CA, No damage. (-23) CFR cooper stated in telephone interview with Mr. Jeff rich of the NTSB, the following points: 1. He allowed the student to enter the maneuver (engine… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 19, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54553. 530 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 363 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428183&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Telephone Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40157965&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation-Master.PDF - CFI and Pilot Statements (item 3, .PDF, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428185&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CFI%20and%20Pilot%20Statements-Redacted.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.