# NTSB DCA83AA022: Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, N72B, Jeffersonville, GA, March 24, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: March 24, 1983, 02:36 local (07:36 UTC)
- Place: Jeffersonville, GA
- Coordinates: 32.67921, -83.339523 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6792&lon=-83.3395&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15781
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA83AA022
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15781/pdf
- Board report AAR8401 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8401.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA83AA022

## Sequence of events

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

- Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - overload
  - wing - separation
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - overload
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ON THE RETURN PORTION OF A ROUND TRIP FLT, HAULING CANCELED BANK CHECKS. WHEN THEY BOARDED BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PLT'S WIFE, WHO WAS NOT A PLT, OCCUPIED THE R FRONT SEAT & HIS 2 DAUGHTER'S, AGES 4 & 6, WERE IN THE PASSENGER SEATS. PREVIOUS LEGS OF THE FLT WERE ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT INCIDENT. WHILE EN ROUTE ON THE 4TH LEG, A RADAR HANDOFF WAS MADE FROM JACKSONVILLE TO ATLANTA CENTER AT 0225 EST & THE PLT REPORTED AT FL180. THIS WAS HIS LAST KNOWN TRANSMISSION. AT 0230, THE ATC CONTROLLER NOTED THE ACFT WAS PASSING MACON VOR. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST & EFFORTS TO MAKE RADIO CONTACT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. SEVERAL PERSONS IN THE VICINITY HEARD THE ACFT ENGS ALTERNATELY AT HI SPEED, THEN DEMISHING, BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND SCATTERED OVER A 2 MI AREA. AN EXAM REVEALED THE R WING HAD FAILED UPWARD & THE L WING & L HORIZONTAL STABILIZER HAD FAILED DOWNWARD FROM OVERLOAD. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF COURSE REVERSAL & DESCENT BEFORE BREAKUP; LIGHT TURBULENCE & ICING AT CRUISE ALT. REASON FOR DSCNT UNKN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N72B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N72B-1983-06-16), registration cancelled 1983-06-16, S/N 735SA (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: 735-SA
- Engines: AIRESEARCH TPE-331 778 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Part 135
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: JAX, JACKSONVILLE, FL
- Destination: ATL, ATLANTA, GA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,747 total, 547 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19830324075569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830324075569A), Mar 24, 1983: Mtsbsi MU2B, Jeffersonville, GA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Aircraft entered uncontrolled descent for undetermined reasons and overstress and breakup occurred.

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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