# NTSB CEN10LA117: Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, N644EM, Amarillo, TX, February 4, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 4, 2010, 02:15 local (08:15 UTC) - Place: Amarillo, TX - Coordinates: 35.219165, -101.705833 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2192&lon=-101.7058&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 17, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - NTSB case key (mKey): 75357 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75357/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75357 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA117 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control while landing on an ice/snow covered runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=5780460), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=5780460), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) - [Alertness/Fatigue](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot; cases with it: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500/cases.md?model=5780460), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=5780460), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=5780460), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5780460), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis While on approach to the snow and ice-covered runway, the pilot was correcting for a right crosswind. The airplane was flying approximately 20 knots faster than the recommended landing airspeed. The airplane's right main landing gear touched down first followed by the left main landing gear and the nose gear. The airplane made an abrupt left turn and the pilot attempted to correct by depressing the right rudder pedal. The pilot lost control of the airplane and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The right main landing gear was torn from the airplane and the airplane came to rest in the upright position. Airfield operations reported that the runway's braking condition was estimated at "nil." An examination of the airplane and its systems revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative **This report was modified on April 23, 2010** On February 4, 2010, approximately 0215 central standard time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, N644EM, was substantially damaged during a runway excursion at the Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (KAMA), Amarillo, Texas. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The on-demand air taxi flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The cross-country flight originated from the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW), Fort Worth, Texas at 0111 and was landing at its intended destination at the time of the accident. According to a statement provided by the airline transport pilot, while on approach to the airport, the pilot was informed by airport operations that the runway was covered with snow and ice. The pilot acknowledged and continued the instrument approach to the landing runway. While on approached the pilot was correcting for a right crosswind. The pilot kept a higher approach speed and landed 20 knots faster than the manufacturer's recommended landing airspeed. The airplane's right main landing gear touched down first followed by the left main landing gear and the nose gear. The airplane made an abrupt left turn and the pilot attempted to correct by depressing the right rudder pedal. The pilot lost control of the airplane and the airplane departed the left side of the runway on a heading that was approximately 30 degrees left of runway heading. The right main landing gear detached from the airplane and the airplane came to rest in the upright position. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the accident scene and found no pre-impact anomalies with the airframe or engines. Denting, bending, and crushing damage was sustained to fuselage and the forward spar of the right wing. In an interview with the FAA inspector, a representative from airfield operations reported the runway's braking condition was estimated at "nil." This accident is part of the Safety Board's Human Fatigue Investigation Methodology Study. Forms completed by the pilot indicate that he awoke at approximately 0700 on February 3, 2010. The pilot had been awake for 19 hours and 15 minutes prior to the accident, but had only been on-duty for 4 hours and 15 minutes. At 0211, an aviation special weather report from KAMA's weather station reported winds from 120 degrees at 6 knots, 1/2 miles visibility with a runway 04 visual range of 4,000 to 5,000 feet, snow, freezing fog, an indefinite ceiling with a vertical visibility of 110 feet, temperature 28 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 28 F, and a barometric pressure of 29.91 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N644EM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N644EM-2010-04-27), registration cancelled 2010-04-27, S/N 1534 S.A. (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MITSUBISHI MU-2B-60 - Registry model: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-60](https://openairdocs.org/model/mitsubishi-mu-2b-60) (registry code 5780460) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1534 S.A. - Airframe hours: 10019 - Engines: Honeywell TPE331-10-511 1000 hp turbo prop; Honeywell TPE331-10-511 1000 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Mid-Coast Air Charter Inc - Registered owner: Martin Earle P - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 11, 2009 - Departed: KDFW, DALLAS/FORT WOR, TX - Destination: KAMA, Amarillo, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KAMA, Amarillo International, runway 04, 13,502 × 200 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 23, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 12,954 total, 9,277 in this make and model, 12,822 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 120° at 6 knots - Lowest ceiling: 110 ft indefinitevv - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KAMA, 1 nm away ## 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 20100204005299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100204005299A), Feb 4, 2010: Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, Amarillo, TX, Substantial damage. N644EM departed dfw at 01:11 CST on February 4, 2010, IFR, and landed at ama at 02:15, runway 4, in Amarillo, TX (ama). The runway had received 3 to 5 inches… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75357. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 482 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328637&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo: Wreckage overview (item 2, .PDF, 543 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328640&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Wreckage%20overview-Master.PDF 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.