# NTSB BFO85FA011: Mitsubishi MU-2B-25, N275MA, West Point, VA, January 4, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 4, 1985, 18:52 local (23:52 UTC)
- Place: West Point, VA
- Coordinates: 37.549152, -76.799598 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5492&lon=-76.7996&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11124
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO85FA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11124/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO85FA011

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, circling (ifr)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, circling (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER BEING DELAYED AT LEAST 2 DAYS AT YOUNGSTOWN, OH, DUE TO MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS THE PLT DEPARTED AT APRX 1725 HRS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE WX AT HIS DESTINATION WAS IFT TO LIFR. IN ADDITION, THE PLT WAS SCHEDULED FOR A VACATION AND HAD EXPRESSED HOPES OF DEPARTING ON IT THAT EVENING. THE ACFT WAS SEEN CIRCLING WEST POINT MUNICIPAL ARPT IN AND OUT OF LOW CLOUDS, FOG, AND/OR SMOKE FROM A NEARBY MILL. IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES 6.5 MILES WEST OF THE ARPT, A WITNESS SAW RED LIGHTS, ONE ON THE REAR AND ONE CLOSE TO THE FRONT OF THE ACFT, WHICH WAS ESTIMATED TO BE FLYING AT APRX TREE TOP LEVEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N275MA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MITSUBISHI MU-2B-25
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 255
- Airframe hours: 45804
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-3316-252M 715 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Registered owner: Chesapeake Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 4, 1985, 14 hours before
- Departed: YNG, YOUNGSTOWN, OH
- Destination: W97, WEST POINT, VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: W97, West Point Muni, runway 27, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 82,818 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 81,552 as pilot in command, 686 in the last 90 days, 503 in the last 30 days, 14 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 30° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RIC, 22 nm away

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.

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