# NTSB CHI90LA088: Mitsubishi MU-300, N368PU, Gary, IN, February 23, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 23, 1990, 06:06 local (12:06 UTC)
- Place: Gary, IN
- Location: 41.6172° N, 87.4145° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GARY/CHICAGO INTL (GYY), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6172&lon=-87.4145&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 3, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14637
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90LA088
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14637/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA088

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF SNOW REMOVAL PERSONNEL TO RECOGNIZE THE POTENTIAL HAZARD OF THE SNOW RIDGE ON THE RUNWAY AND COMMUNICATE THIS INFORMATION TO THE CONTROL TOWER.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  THE RUNWAY/TERRAIN/LIGHT CONDITIONS, AND FAILURE OF AIRPORT MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL TO IDENTIFY THE POTENTIAL HAZARDOUS CONDITION ON THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - airport snow removal - initiated, airport personnel
  - unsafe/hazardous condition - not identified, airport personnel (contributing factor)
  - unsafe/hazardous condition warning - inadequate, airport personnel (cause)
  - communications/information/atc - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dawn (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural detection, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE FLT CREW BGN ARR AS SNW REMOVAL PSNL (SRP) WERE REMOVING SNW FM THE RWY (BFR DAYLIGHT & BFR THE TWR OPENED). THE ARPT MGR USED A LIGHT TO SIGNAL SRP TO CLR THE RWY. THE LCL TWR CTLR (LC), WHO WAS COMING ON DUTY, ESTABLISHED RADIO CTC WITH SRP TO ASSURE THE RWY WAS CLR. SRP INFORMED HIM THAT 50% OF THE RWY (NORTH OF THE CENTERLINE) WAS CLEARED OF SNW. THE LC RELAYED THE INFO TO THE FLT CREW & SUBSEQUENTLY CLRD THEM TO LND ON RWY 30. THE CAPT SAID HE LANDED ON THE CLRD PORTION OF THE RWY, BUT AVOIDED THE RGT EDGE 'WHERE SNOWBANKS COULD BE ASSUMED TO EXIST.'  DRG THE LNDG ROLL, WITH THE LEFT WING EXTENDED OVER THE UNPLOWED PORTION OF THE RWY, THE OCCUPANTS FELT 'BUMPS' THAT THEY ATTRIBUTED TO ICE/SNOWON THE RWY. WHILE TAXIING OFF THE RWY, THE CAPT NOTICED THE LEFT WING HAD BEEN DAMAGED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEFT WING & FLAP HAD HIT A 1 TO 4 FT SNW RIDGE BETWEEN THE PLOWED & UNPLOWED PORTIONS OF THE RWY, WHICH WAS PARALLEL & ADJACENT TO THE RWY CENTERLINE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N368PU (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MITSUBISHI MU-300
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: A-068SA
- Airframe hours: 1612
- Engines: P&W JT15D-4D 2500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: Purdue Research Foundation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 16, 1990, 12 hours before
- Departed: LAF, W LAFAYETTE, IN
- Destination: GYY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GYY, Gary, runway 30, 7,000 × 150 ft, snow

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,693 total, 350 in this make and model, 5,318 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 20° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GYY

## 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 19900223002839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900223002839A), Feb 23, 1990: Mtsbsi MU300, Gary, IN, Substantial damage. Landed on a partially snow plowed runway,left wing hit a 4 foot high snow ridge. Failed to use rightside clear area

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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