What happened
During a training flight, a Beechcraft Hawker BH-125, registration N125E, was performing a takeoff roll. As part of a pre-briefed maneuver to simulate an engine failure, the student pilot reduced the left throttle to idle once the aircraft reached 110 knots. While the initial rotation and climb were steady up to approximately 20 feet, the left wing began to drop. Despite attempts by the student to correct the roll with right aileron and efforts by the instructor to advance power, the aircraft failed to maintain level flight.
The BH-125 impacted the runway with its left wing, causing the main gear mounts to fail and a fuel tank to rupture, which ignited a fire. The aircraft then veered left and collided with a stationary Grumman American AA-5A, registration N9844U, which was taxiing near runway 13R. The impact and subsequent fire involved both aircraft. During the accident, the crew of the AA-5A was ejected from the cockpit due to unlatched seatbelts.
Findings
Investigations into the loss of control during the takeoff phase identified several contributing factors. The student pilot failed to maintain directional control, a situation exacerbated by a lack of experience with this specific aircraft type. Additionally, inadequate supervision by the instructor pilot was cited as a primary factor, alongside an overestimation of the aircraft's capabilities and insufficient remedial actions during the simulated failure.
Environmental conditions also played a role, specifically a crosswind that affected the flight path. Furthermore, the collision itself was attributed to a failure to maintain proper clearance from the taxiing AA-5A.