Beech 76 accident near Frankfort, Kentucky, February 21, 2019
On February 21, 2019 at about 3:26 pm local time, a 1979 Beech 76, registered N7KY, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Frankfort, Kentucky (Capital City Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during a simulated single-engine go-around, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 2019 · about 3:26 pm local time
- Place
- Frankfort, Kentucky · Capital City Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 76 No Series, built 1979 · all 76s on the register
- Registration
- N7KY · no longer on the register · serial ME-139
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot in the left seat was receiving instruction to obtain a commercial multiengine rating and was performing a practice left engine-out approach. He indicated that he determined that he had the runway "made" and reduced throttle on the right engine. He stated that the airplane "settled" too much, and he added throttle without compensating with the appropriate aileron and rudder inputs. The approach became unstable, and he called for a go-around and added full right throttle while the airplane was below minimum controllable airspeed. The instructor indicated that this occurred before he could stop the pilot and that the airplane reacted quickly with a yaw and roll to the left. The airplane collided with the ground in a left-wing-low attitude, caught fire, and sustained substantial damage from the impact forces and postaccident fire. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Yaw control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 639 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 91 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 431 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 21, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,189 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 16,312 as pilot in command; 3,318 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 29, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,821 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 31, 2019; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming O-360-A1G6D (piston); 4,722 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming LO-360-A1G6D (piston); 4,722 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Nexgen Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: LEX Lexington KY at 2:10 pm
- Destination: FFT Frankfort KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,506 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from FFT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.