What happened
A captain was undergoing a proficiency check conducted by another company's pilot acting as the check pilot. The flight took place under dark night conditions. After completing a full-stop landing on runway 25, the crew recited the takeoff checklist. The pilot in command then commenced takeoff on runway 07. Shortly after liftoff, the check pilot simulated a failure of the inboard engine.
The pilot in command was unable to accelerate to V2 speed, climb, or maintain directional control. The aircraft leveled off, and airspeed began to decay while the aircraft drifted to the right. The check captain failed to take control or terminate the engine-out simulation as the situation deteriorated. The aircraft collided with an ILS glide slope tower marked by red obstruction lights. Control was lost when the right wingtip and aileron separated. The aircraft then impacted the ground and slid to a stop.
The investigation
Examination of the aircraft revealed that the takeoff flap position should have been 1/4. However, both flaps were found near the 1/2 flap extended position, with the handle located in the 1/2 flap detent. Performance charts indicated that the aircraft was able to reach V2 at 50 feet altitude in a 6500-foot roll, followed by a climb rate of +575 FPM (VYSE) at the accident weight.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's inability to maintain control and accelerate after the simulated engine failure, combined with the check captain's failure to intervene. The incorrect flap setting likely degraded performance during the critical takeoff phase.