Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 N74FB
11 September 1992 · Greenwood, Indiana, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 11 September 1992 at about 19:57 local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 registered N74FB, operated by Solar Sources Inc., was involved in an accident near Greenwood, Indiana, United States. 8 people were on board and 6 died, 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:57
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Greenwood, Indiana, United States
- Nearest airport
- Greenwood Muni
- Coordinates
- 39.6698, -86.0706
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-60
- Registration
- N74FB
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Solar Sources Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Executive/Corporate
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Columbus
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DCA92MA049
People
6 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE INHERENT LIMITATIONS OF THE SEE-AND-AVOID CONCEPT OF SEPARATION OF AIRCRAFT OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES THAT PRECLUDED THE PILOTS OF THE MU-2 AND THE PA-32 FROM RECOGNIZING A COLLISION HAZARD AND TAKING ACTIONS TO AVOID THE MIDAIR COLLISION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE MU-2 PILOT TO USE ALL THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICES AVAILABLE BY NOT ACTIVATING HIS INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT PLAN BEFORE TAKEOFF. ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO FOLLOW RECOMMENDED TRAFFIC PATTERN PROCEDURES, AS RECOMMENDED IN THE AIRMAN'S INFORMATION MANUAL, FOR AIRPORT ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES. (NTSB REPORT AAR-93/05)
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PA-32, N82419, HAD BEEN RECEIVING ATC RADAR SERVICES EN ROUTE TO THE GREENWOOD MUNI ARPT. RADAR SERVICES WERE TERMINATED 3 MI FROM THE ARPT. THE MU-2, N74FB, HAD JUST TAKEN OFF FROM THE ARPT, AND HAD REPORTED TO ATC IN ANTICIPATION OF RECEIVING HIS IFR CLEARANCE. THE FLIGHT HAD NOT YET BEEN IDENTIFIED ON RADAR. THE TWO AIRPLANES COLLIDED APRX 2 MI FROM THE ARPT AT 2,100 FT MSL. THE COLLISION TOOK PLACE JUST OUTSIDE AND TO THE EAST OF THE INDIANAPOLIS AIRPORT RADAR SERVICE AREA (ARSA). THE MU-2 TRACK WAS 066 DEG, AND THE PA-32 TRACK WAS 174 DEG. THE PAX/PLT ON THE PA-32 TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE & WAS ABLE TO MAKE A CONTROLLED LANDING. GUIDANCE FOR TRAFFIC PATTERN OPERATIONS & RECOMMENDED ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE PROCEDURES IS FOUND IN THE AIRMAN'S INFORMATION MANUAL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 MU-2B-60 | N74FB | Solar Sources Inc. | Destroyed |
| Piper PA-32-301 PA-32-301 | N82419 | RAF Flying Servies | Destroyed |
Other Mitsubishi MU-2B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 1992 | Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 | Concord, New Hampshire, United States | Richard R. Hough | Fatal | 2 |
| 21 Nov 1992 | Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | Wayne C. Muhler | No injuries | - |
| 5 Mar 1992 | Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 | New Castle, Colorado, United States | Neece, S.r./Geesbreght, J.m. | Fatal | 6 |
| 25 Jun 1992 | Mitsubishi MU-2B-30 | Alamagordo, New Mexico, United States | William G. Whitehead | Fatal | 6 |
| 6 Jan 1993 | Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 | Nome, Alaska, United States | Bering Air, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 6 Apr 1993 | Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 | Casper, Wyoming, United States | Casper Air Service | Fatal | 4 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Sep 1992 | Piper PA-61-601P | Aurora, Indiana, United States | Brent J. Black | Fatal | 1 |
| 21 Dec 1992 | Carlson SPARROW II | Lafontaine, Indiana, United States | William A. Thompson | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jan 1992 | British BAE-ATP | Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States | Air Wisconsin Airlines | No injuries | - |
| 3 Oct 1992 | Cessna 172P | Kokomo, Indiana, United States | Rhoades Aviation, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 1992 | Cessna C177B | Noblesville, Indiana, United States | Jacobi/Bittner/Boice, ET al | No injuries | - |
| 11 Jan 1992 | Beechcraft A36 | Griffith, Indiana, United States | Dalsanto, James A | No injuries | - |