Beech 76 N6709Y accident near Pompano Beach, Florida

Probable cause

The flight instructor's failure to maintain airplane control while demonstrating a simulated engine failure. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper response to the simulated engine failure.

NTSB analysis

The flight instructor was providing multiengine flight instruction to two students (who were both pilots), which included simulated engine failures over the course of two flights. The airplane landed, and the flight instructor told the accident pilot, who had only 2.4 hours experience in the accident airplane, that he wanted him to practice engine failures in the traffic pattern. The flight instructor advised the pilot to expect an engine failure during takeoff. While on the right crosswind leg of the airport traffic pattern, about 600 ft above ground level, the flight instructor retarded the right engine throttle lever, reducing the right engine power to idle. The pilot then pressed hard on the right (incorrect) rudder pedal with enough force that it moved the flight instructor's foot off the left rudder pedal. The airplane immediately rolled violently to the right before the flight instructor took control of the airplane; however, the airplane had entered a dive and the flight instructor was unable to recover before the airplane collided with a residence. The flight instructor is responsible for monitoring the students performance providing remedial action immediately if necessary. In this case, the instructor's delayed remedial action did not allow for recovery before the airplane struck the residence. All three pilots stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA16FA170 for the full record.