Incident Summary
A Beech Baron 58 was engaged in a training flight when the instructor pilot simulated an engine failure below Vmc at 3000 feet MSL (2500 feet AGL). The student pilot reported lowering the nose, banking toward the operating engine, and applying full power to that engine. However, the instructor observed that the student added full power but did not lower the nose, with a delay of 1 to 2 seconds before corrective action was taken. The airplane entered a left spin, prompting the instructor to take control. Recovery was achieved as the airplane entered the tops of trees. The aircraft subsequently impacted a wooded area in a nose-down attitude.
Flight Details
The training flight involved a simulated engine failure scenario typical of multi-engine training, intended to practice handling an engine loss at speeds below Vmc—the minimum control speed with one engine inoperative. The aircraft was operating at an altitude of 3000 feet MSL, approximately 2500 feet above ground level.
Sequence of Events
According to the instructor, the student pilot's response to the simulated failure did not include the critical initial step of lowering the nose to maintain airspeed. Instead, full power was applied to the operating engine without the necessary pitch adjustment. The delay in corrective action allowed the airplane to yaw and roll into a left spin. The instructor took control of the aircraft during the spin and initiated recovery procedures. As the airplane descended, recovery was partially accomplished, but the aircraft contacted treetops before impacting the ground in a nose-down attitude.
No further details regarding occupants, injuries, or damage were provided in the source.