# NTSB ATL89FA065: Mitsubishi MU-2B, N500V, Mansfield, OH, January 2, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 2, 1989, 16:43 local (21:43 UTC)
- Place: Mansfield, OH
- Coordinates: 40.780181, -82.529747 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7802&lon=-82.5297&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 88-13-01](https://openairdocs.org/ad/88-13-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7871
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89FA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7871/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA065

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, AT ABOUT THE TIME HE WAS CHANGING RADIO FREQUENCIES DURING AN IFR APPROACH.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - weather condition - clouds
  - weather condition - icing conditions
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DRG ARRIVAL, THE FLT WAS VCTRD FOR AN ILS RWY 32 APCH. AS THE ARRIVAL CONTD, THE ATC CTLR PROVIDED THE LATEST INFO ON CLOUD TOPS & IN-CLOUD ICING. THE PLT ACKNOWLEDGED, THEN INQUIRED ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE 'LOCATOR.'  THE CTLR ADZD THAT ALL COMPONENTS OF THE ILS, INCLUDING THE OUTER MARKER LOCATOR, WERE MONITORING NML. FOUR MI FM THE OUTER MARKER/FAF, THEPLT WAS GIVEN A FINAL VECTOR, WAS CLRD FOR THE APCH & WAS CLRD TO CIRCLE & LND ON RWY 23. HE ACKNOWLEDGED, THEN RADIO & RADAR CTC WITH THE ACFT WERE LOST. THE ACFT CRASHED APRX 2 MI SE OF THE FAF, WHILE IN A STEEP DSCNT ON A HDG OF 140 DEG.NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FND, THOUGH IT WAS EXTENSIVELY DMGD. ABT 3 WKS AFTER A BOATING ACDNT ON 7/2/88, THE PLT WAS ADMITTED TO A HOSPITAL & TREATED FOR A STROKE, BUT AN AUTOPSY & TOX CHECKS FAILED TO REVEALANY COND WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE PLT FM PERFORMING HIS DUTIES. AD 88-13-01, CONCERNING ACFT EQUIPPED WITH M-4C/D AUTOPLTS, WAS NOT COMPLIED WITH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N500V (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MITSUBISHI MU-2B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3795A
- Airframe hours: 3288
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331 665 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Baronco Aire Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: AAIP, June 13, 1988
- Departed: GSP, GREENVILLE, SC
- Destination: MANSFIELD, OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MFD, Mansfield Lahm Muni, runway 23, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 11,700 total, 2,860 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MFD

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890102000069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890102000069A), Jan 2, 1989: Mtsbsi MU2B26A, Mansfield, OH, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Vertical impact in open field on ILS approach. Factors noted are icing. Pilots prior stroke not reported to FAA.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.