Incident Summary
A twin-engine airplane operated by an airline experienced a runway excursion during a training flight. The aircraft was being used for first officer training under the supervision of a trainer pilot employed by the operator. The flight had completed air work and returned to the airport for landing practice.
Sequence of Events
According to both pilots, the first approach and touchdown were normal, although the airplane touched down slightly right of the runway centerline. After touchdown, the airplane began drifting further to the right, and the trainee pilot was unable to correct the deviation. The trainer pilot reported that when directional control became unstable, he announced, "I have the controls." The trainee released his hands from the engine power levers and the yoke, but the airplane continued to deviate to the right, contrary to the trainer pilot's control inputs. The trainer pilot then applied asymmetric power to the engines in an attempt to regain the centerline, but this was unsuccessful.
The trainer pilot realized that based on his inputs, the airplane should have returned to the centerline but did not, and that the airplane was behaving as if the trainee pilot was applying some braking. At that point, the trainer pilot "clearly shouted a second time" for the trainee to release the controls. The airplane then exited the right side of the runway and collided with a ditch. During the rollout, the trainer pilot used the brakes, which he reported applied and released normally.
Pilot Statements
The trainer pilot reported that, in his opinion, the trainee pilot's feet were either on the brakes or interfered with his brake and/or rudder application attempts. The trainee pilot stated that he could not recall the position of his feet after he relinquished airplane control to the trainer pilot.
Aircraft Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.