Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 N64MD
9 February 1990 · Rapid City, South Dakota, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 9 February 1990 at about 18:14 local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 registered N64MD, operated by Aeromedical Services Intl, was involved in an accident near Rapid City, South Dakota, United States. 4 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:14
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Rapid City, South Dakota, United States
- Nearest airport
- Rapid City Regional (RAP)
- Coordinates
- 44.0706, -103.2296
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-60
- Registration
- N64MD
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Aeromedical Services Intl
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Manitoba, Canada
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN90FA055
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED (VMC), WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: FATIGUE FAILURE OF A COUPLING SHAFT IN THE #1 ENGINE, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER IN THAT ENGINE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WITNESSES RPRTD THAT SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT ENTERED AN UNUSUALLY STEEP, NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, WHILE STILL AT LOW AIRSPEED. ONE WITNESS (AN ATP PLT) RPRTD THE ACFT ATTAINED AN ALT OF APRX 75 TO 100 FT AND APPEARED TO SLOW DOWN AND ENTER A VMC ROLL, THEN IT CRASHED. IMPACT OCCURRED IN AN INVERTED, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, LEFT OF THE RWY. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A COUPLING SHAFT (PN 865888-3) HAD FAILED IN THE LEFT ENG & THE LEFT PROP HAD FEATHERED. A METALLURICAL EXAM OF THE COUPLING SHOWED EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Mitsubishi MU-2B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul 1990 | Mitsubishi MU-2B | Tyndall Afb, Florida, United States | Flight International | No injuries | - |
| 9 Jan 1990 | Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | Riggs, Charles A. | No injuries | - |
| 6 Sep 1990 | Mitsubishi MU-2B-36 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | Tennessee Air Corp. | Fatal | 1 |
| 14 Feb 1990 | Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 | Putnam, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 5 |
| 9 Feb 1990 | Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 | Teterboro, New Jersey, United States | Epps Air Service | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jan 1990 | Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Mar 1990 | Cessna 172I | Isabel, South Dakota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Feb 1990 | Bell 206B | Fort Thompson, South Dakota, United States | DOE | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 Apr 1990 | Piper PA-22 | Edgemont, South Dakota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 May 1990 | Cessna 182RG | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States | Sky VU Flyers, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 15 Sep 1990 | Cessna 172M | Aberdeen, South Dakota, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 4 Jun 1990 | Cessna 150F | Sturgis, South Dakota, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |