NYC98LA101

During a go-around on, the airplane yawed nose left and entered a descending left turn. The airplane struck the ground in an open field to the left of the runway and burned. Examination revealed the left fuel selector was OFF, and the right fuel selector was ON. The fuel lines were intact and about 5 ounces of fuel was found in the fuel line to the right engine, and about 1/2 ounce of fuel was found in the fuel line to the left engine. The flight instructor reported the pilot receiving instruction had checked the fuel selectors as they entered the traffic pattern and he verified their position. When asked why he did not feather the propeller on the left engine, the flight instructor reported he was too busy trying to fly the airplane.

On April 24, 1998, about 1623 eastern daylight time, a Beech D95A, N479AM, was destroyed when it struck the ground during a go-around at the Montgomery County Airport, Mount Sterling, Kentucky. The certificated flight instructor and a commercial rated pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local multi-engine training flight. No flight plan had been filed for fight which departed Montgomery County Airport about 1 1/2 hours prior to the accident and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The flight instructor reported that they were returning from a multi-engine training flight. As the entered the traffic pattern the fuel selectors were checked to ensure that both fuel valves were on the main tanks. On final approach, about 1/2 mile from the runway, the airplane drifted left of course and the flight instructor called for a go-around. In a written statement, the flight instructor reported:

"...I noticed that the airspeed had dropped to approximately 103 MPH. At that point I instructed the student to go around. The student added full power on both engines and retracted the gear and flaps. The airplane started rolling to the left giving the indication that the left engine had failed to respond. I quickly came on the controls with the student and checked both throttles at full, and was unable to correct the left rolling and yawing tendencies. As we crossed over the field boundary, the airplane was approximately 100 feet left of the runway edge, veering further left toward a slight rise and trees. My last memory before the crash was of descending toward the terrain in a left wing low attitude with full right yoke and rudder. I retarded both throttles to idle in an effort to keep the airplane upright.

According to an Inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the airplane impacted the ground about 500 feet past the approach end of the runway, and about 400 feet left of the runway centerline. Following touchdown, the airplane spun around and slid for about 100 feet. After it came to rest, a fire developed which destroyed the cockpit/cabin of the airplane.

The flight instructor was interviewed by a FAA inspector who stated:

"Upon returning to the airport, ...[The flight instructor] briefed that it would be a two-engine normal landing to a full stop, followed by taxi back for takeoff and closed traffic...Prior to entering the traffic pattern performed a before landing check which included placing the fuel selector valves in the MAIN position. Again,...[the flight instructor] performed the steps, and ...[the student] verified them."

"...[the flight instructor] said that after getting on the controls during the go-around, he felt that the left engine had probably failed. When asked why he didn't continue the procedure and feather the left engine, he said that he was too busy trying to fly the aircraft. He did, however, just prior to ground contact, consider retarding both throttles to restore directional control. He cannot recall whether he did so."

The FAA inspector also reported that the landing gear and flaps were retracted, and neither propeller had been feathered. There was no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction with either engine. Flight control continuity was verified to the primary flight control surfaces. The left engine fuel selector was found OFF, and the right engine fuel selector was found ON. The fuel lines between the mechanical fuel pump and the fuel injection manifold on both engines were intact. Approximately 5 ounces of fuel was found in the lines of the right engine, while about 1/2 ounce of fuel was found in the lines of the left engine. Additionally, fuel was found in the right engine mechanical fuel pump, and no fuel was found in the left engine mechanical fuel pump.

According to pilot records, the flight instructor had 3,480 hours with 70 hours in make and model of airplane. He had flown about 75 hours in the preceding 90 days. The multi-engine trainee had 2,816 hours, with 5 hours in make and model airplane. He had flown 22 hours in the preceding 90 days.