What happened
A training flight involving an instructor and a student pilot departed from Richmond, Virginia, with the intended destination being Petersburg, Virginia. During the flight, the crew performed several touch-and-go maneuvers. While attempting to land, the twin engine airplane made contact with the runway surface upon touchdown. In response to this contact, the pilot initiated a go-around procedure. However, the aircraft became uncontrollable and veered away from the runway, eventually coming to a stop while on fire. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and two fatalities.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the crew failed to extend the landing gear prior to touchdown. Additional contributing factors included the following:
- An inability to maintain the necessary flying speed during the maneuver
- A diversion of attention away from the primary operation of the aircraft
- Damage to both propellers, including a broken blade on the right propeller
- Evidence of propeller strikes on the runway surface, with slash marks located to both the left and right of the runway centerline