# NTSB CHI77FEC25: Mitsubishi MU-2B, N321MA, Ypsilanti, MI, April 4, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: April 4, 1977
- Place: Ypsilanti, MI · YPSILANTI, MI
- Location: 42.2444° N, 83.6212° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ypsilanti, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2444&lon=-83.6212&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 17, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 157785
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI77FEC25
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FEC25

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2252   77/4/4    YPSILANTI,MI        MITSUBISHI MU-2B    CR-  0  2  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 51, 2993
        TIME - 2004                    N321MA              PX-  0  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 TOTAL HOURS, 144 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WILLOW RUN
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BOSTON,MA                   YPSILANTI,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: MISSED APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE (MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL)
           SYSTEMS - FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS: ELEVATOR AND ELEVATOR TAB CONTROL SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FRAYED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - BINDING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          FOG                                                      RIGHT QUARTERING TAIL WIND 203-247 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           49                                                      180
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           8                                                       IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- MAINTENANCE CONDUCTED ON ELEVATOR TRIM TAB BRACKET ON 03/04/77.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N321MA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N321MA-1977-06-24), registration cancelled 1977-06-24, S/N 276 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MITSUBISHI MU-2B
- Registry model: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-25](https://openairdocs.org/model/mitsubishi-mu-2b-25) (registry code 5780409) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Willow Run

## 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 19770404008469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770404008469A), Apr 4, 1977: Mtsbsi MU2B25, Ypsilanti, MI, Destroyed. Maintenance conducted on elevator trim tab bracket on 03/04/77.

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.
