What happened
The flight was an instructional mission involving two airline transport pilot-rated individuals: a flight instructor and a student instructor training for multiengine airplane flight instructor certification. Approximately one hour after takeoff, the flight instructor initiated a simulation of a left engine failure while located about 5 nautical miles east of the airport.
The crew performed a visual flight rules approach to runway 27, maintaining the left engine in a zero-thrust condition. During the landing flare, the student instructor was controlling the multiengine airplane, but failed to maintain alignment with the runway centerline. Additionally, the aircraft's airspeed decreased below the single-engine minimum control airspeed (Vmc) during the flare.
The flight instructor initiated a go-around procedure by advancing both throttles. While the aircraft initially accelerated and began a climb, the flight instructor subsequently reduced the flaps to 10 degrees. Following this reduction, the aircraft began to yaw and roll to the left. In an attempt to recover, the flight instructor applied full right rudder and full right aileron and reduced power on both engines. The aircraft struck the ground in a left bank of approximately 30 degrees, spun, and caught fire.
The investigation
Investigators from the FAA and Textron Lycoming examined the left engine and the aircraft's flight controls. These post-accident examinations found no evidence of mechanical discrepancies prior to the impact.