WPR18LA082

NTSB accident investigation · Beech 95 · North Las Vegas, NV · February 2, 2018

Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal report
Date
February 2, 2018, 11:15 local (19:15 UTC)
Place
North Las Vegas, NV
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N128WBeech 95
Defining event
Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
Investigation class
Class 3
NTSB office
Western Pacific Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20180202000219A
Case key
96690

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

Loss of aircraft control during an unplanned go-around for reasons that could not be determined based on available information. Contributing to the accident was the delayed remedial action by the flight instructor.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Not determinedNot determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determinedAll aircraft: 2,247 casesProbable cause
Action: delayed actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilotAll aircraft: 894 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Loss of control in flightApproach-VFR go-aroundAll aircraft: 5,002 casesDefining event

Analysis

The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting a right engine out simulation while on approach to land during the instructional flight. Both pilots noted a slowed airspeed and descent. The student pilot then added power to the left engine but, the engine did not respond with a corresponding increase in power. At that point, the airplane’s altitude was about 200 ft above ground level, and the instructor told the student pilot to perform a go-around using both engines. The student pilot applied full power; however, the airplane began to roll to the left and continued to descend. The left wing struck the ground, and the airplane skidded off the runway and impacted a taxiway sign. An examination of the engine was performed by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors who reported that no mechanical failures or malfunctions were revealed that would have precluded normal operation. Repeated attempts to obtain additional information from the owner/operator of the airplane were made without response to the NTSB.

Factual narrative

On February 2, 2018, about 1105 Pacific standard time, a Beech 95, N128W, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at the North Las Vegas Airport (VGT), Las Vegas, Nevada. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor stated that they had flown for 2 hours prior to the accident flight. On the accident portion of the flight, they were in-bound on a simulated engine out for the instrument landing system and instructed to circle left downwind for runway 30L. The right throttle was set for 1,200 rpm, and the student was using the left throttle to adjust for pitch (airspeed) and altitude. He monitored the engine instruments the entire time and didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. As they lined up on base, he noticed they were getting slow (90 miles per hour (mph)), and low (3 red on the PAPI (precision approach path indicators)). He advised the student to add power on the good engine (left) and bring the nose down. When the student applied left throttle, nothing seemed to happen. To which the flight instructor replied, “you have both throttles, go around….” They were about 200 ft above ground level when the student applied full throttle to both engines, the airplane continued to sink, and the airplane entered Vmc (minimum controllable airspeed) to the left. The left wing struck the runway first, and they skidded off the runway and struck a taxiway sign. The flight instructor further reported that he should have asked for a go around or took over the controls to execute a go around when he noticed the airspeed at 90 mph instead of telling the student they were low and slow. The airplane was inspected by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); however, the full report was not made available to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The FAA made a statement that there was no mechanical problem identified, and a report would be forthcoming. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Repeated attempts to gain additional information from the owner/operator were made without response to the NTSB.

Aircraft

Registration
N128W
Reported as
Beech 95 (UNDESIGNAT)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
TD-66
Built
1958
Airframe hours
8,350.5
Engines
Lycoming O&VO-360 SER, reciprocatingLycoming O&VO-360 SER, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Sheble Joseph F II
Registered owner
Sheble Joseph F II
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 28, 2017
Departed
VGT · North Las Vegas, NV
Destination
VGT · North Las Vegas, NV
Airport
VGT · North Las Vegas, runway 30L, 5,001 × 75 ft, asphalt

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
29
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Right
Restraint
Lap only
Flight hours
399.4 total · 35 in this make and model · 318.1 as pilot in command · 145.6 in the last 90 days · 82 in the last 30 days · 2.8 in the last 24 hours
Role
Student pilot
Age
26
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
500 total · 0 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
120° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
64 °F, dew point 27 °F
Altimeter
30.23 inHg
Observed at
VGT

Docket · 5

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 22, 2021, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.4 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.