What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 03/11/04 around 2030 local, during the approach phase, N966MA mae a steady left descending turn and impacted the water about 3 miles south of the Napa co. airport. The aircraft was destroyed, submerged in the water, and was found and retrieved on 03/20/04. The pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. Investigation of this accident is ongoing. (-23 amendment) inspection of the wreckage indicated that the left engine was shutdown and the left prop was feathered prior to impact. As of this date, the aircraft and engine manufacturers performed a comprehensive inspection of the aircraft and a teardown of the left engine but could not find a definite reason for the engine failure and/or shutdown. Pilot records indicated adequate pilot training and currency in the MU-2B-40 aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 03/11/04 AROUND 2030 LOCAL, DURING THE APPROACH PHASE, N966MA MAE A STEADY LEFT DESCENDING TURN AND IMPACTED THE WATER ABOUT 3 MILES SOUTH OF THE NAPA CO. AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED, SUBMERGED IN THE WATER, AND WAS FOUND AND RETRIEVED ON 03/20/04. THE PILOT AND THE PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED. INVESTIGATION OF THIS ACCIDENT IS ONGOING. (-23 AMENDMENT) INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE INDICATED THAT THE LEFT ENGINE WAS SHUTDOWN AND THE LEFT PROP WAS FEATHERED PRIOR TO IMPACT. AS OF THIS DATE, THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE MANUFACTURERS PERFORMED A COMPREHENSIVE INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND A TEARDOWN OF THE LEFT ENGINE BUT COULD NOT FIND A DEFINITE REASON FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE AND/OR SHUTDOWN. PILOT RECORDS INDICATED ADEQUATE PILOT TRAINING AND CURRENCY IN THE MU-2B-40 AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.