# NTSB BFO89LA023: Mitsubishi MU-2B-20F, N701DM, San Diego, CA, February 28, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 28, 1989, 11:03 local (19:03 UTC)
- Place: San Diego, CA
- Coordinates: 32.71059, -117.160118 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7106&lon=-117.1601&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 13, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11530
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89LA023
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11530/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89LA023

## Probable cause

PILOT INCAPACITATION FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - incapacitation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO PROVIDE AIRBORNE INTERCEPT TRAINING FOR THE U.S. NAVY. THE MISSION HAD JUST BEEN COMPLETED& THE ACCIDENT ACFT, FNT701, & ANOTHER ACFT, FNT492, WERE RETURNING HOME WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. RADAR DATA SHOWED FNT701 WAS AT 22,700 FT WHEN IT DESCENDED SLIGHTLY TO 22,500 FT. FNT701 REMAINED AT THIS ALT FOR APRX 2 MINS 37 SECS, THEN BEGAN A DESCENT WHICH RESULTED IN IMPACT WITH THE OCEAN. THIS FINAL DESCENT RATE INITIALLY WAS ABOUT 5,000 FPM & INCREASED TO 19,000 FPM. NO DISTRESS CALLS WERE MADE; HOWEVER, TWO TRANSMISSIONS WERE RECORDED WHICH TOTALED APRX 30 SECS. THERE WAS NO VOICE COMMUNICATION DURING THESE TRANSMISSIONS, ONLY AN OPEN MIKE & THE SOUND OF PROP(S). DURING THE 1ST TRANSMISSION, THE WORD 'OH' COULD BE HEARD. FNT492 OBSERVED FNT701 DESCEND BELOW THE CLOUDS & DID NOT DETECT ANY DISTRESS SIGNALS. LITTLE WRECKAGE WAS RECOVERED DURING SEARCH & RESCUE OPERATIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N701DM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N701DM-1991-12-12), registration cancelled 1991-12-12, S/N 149 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MITSUBISHI MU-2B-20F
- Registry model: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/mitsubishi-mu-2b-20) (registry code 5780407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 149
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331-1-151 705 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Registered owner: Flight Int'L Of Floria, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, November 3, 1988, 138 hours before
- Departed: CRQ, CARLSBAD, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 7,262 total, 1,010 in this make and model, 6,291 as pilot in command, 162 in the last 90 days, 82 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F

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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