N2007K

On February 10, 2000, about 1845 eastern standard time, a Beech 76, N2007K, registered to Flights Unlimited, Inc., crashed during an aborted landing at Rowan County Airport, Salisbury, North Carolina, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the airline transport-rated flight instructor and private-rated dual student were not injured. The flight last departed Salisbury, North Carolina, the same day, about 1840.

The flight instructor and dual student stated that the flight departed from Rowan County Airport about 1745. After performing airwork, including flight at minimum control speed (Vmc), they returned to Rowan County Airport for a touch-and-go landing. They entered the pattern after the touch-and-go landing, and planned to make a full stop landing. During this approach the flight instructor simulated the failure of the right engine. During final approach the flight instructor told the dual student he could use both engines for landing. As they approached the flare for landing the student drifted to the left and the instructor told him to go around. During the go around, the dual student used only the left engine. The aircraft rolled to the right after power application, and the flight instructor took control. The flight instructor applied full left rudder and aileron, but could not regain control prior to hitting the ground in the grass to the side of the runway.

Examination of the aircraft after the accident was performed by an FAA inspector. The inspector stated the main and nose landing gear had received damage. The surface skin of both wings was wrinkled enough to indicate further internal damage to wing ribs and possibly the spars. At the left wing root the wing was pulled outward away from the fuselage in a way that suggest that there may be additional damage at the wing attachment points. (See FAA Inspector Statement.)