What happened
During a training flight, a student pilot was practicing an NDB-A approach. To simulate an engine failure, the certified flight instructor idled the left engine. The Cessna (type not specified in source) was configured with landing gear up and flaps at 10 degrees for an intended circle to land approach to runway 03.
Upon entering the traffic pattern on the downwind leg, the student was too close to the runway and overshot the field, remaining high while turning from base to final. The student then idled both engines, extended the flaps to 25 degrees, lowered the landing gear, and completed the landing checklist. The instructor called for a go-around. Although the student applied both throttles forward, the aircraft failed to climb.
The crew retracted the landing gear and flaps, but the descent continued. To maintain an airspeed above 66 knots, the crew pushed the nose forward. The aircraft eventually impacted the ground in the dirt area between the taxiway and runway 6/24. At the time of the accident, runway 24 was active, while the instructor had selected runway 03, which was not equipped with lighting. Winds were from 280 degrees at 12 knots, and the density altitude was 9,080 feet.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed that the left propeller signatures were consistent with rotation at ground impact, though not at a significant power level. In contrast, the right propeller signatures indicated high power. Following the substitution of another propeller, the left engine was tested on a stand; it started quickly, responded to throttle, and ran smoothly.
Findings
- The manufacturer calculated that the aircraft should have maintained a positive climb rate of 90 feet per minute with the gear and flaps retracted and the left engine at zero thrust.
- The pilot operating handbook notes that while flaps should be raised during both normal and single-engine go-arounds, a loss of altitude may occur until a climb is established.