# NTSB DCA84AA022: Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, N466MA, Burlington, CT, April 20, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: April 19, 1984, 20:22 local (Apr 20, 1984, 01:22 UTC)
- Place: Burlington, CT
- Location: 41.7693° N, 72.9645° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Burlington, CT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7693&lon=-72.9645&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15807
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA84AA022
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15807/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA84AA022

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, cruise
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS FLOWN EARLIER IN THE DAY FOR A SALES DEMONSTRATION. ON THE RETURN FLT, WHEN THE LANDING GEAR WERE LOWERED, THE PLT THOUGHT HE HEARD A NOISE EMITTING FROM THE GEAR, ALTHOUGH COCKPIT INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL. THE ACFT LANDED AT JOHNNYCAKE ARPT & WAS REFUELED FOR A FLT TO BRADLEY FIELD WHERE IT IS HANGARED. THE PLT STATED HE INTENDED TO MAKE THE 22 MI FLT WITH THE GEAR DOWN AS A PRECAUTION. HE ALSO STATED HIS INTENTION TO FLY BELOW THE OVERCAST BECAUSE OF DELAYS OF UP TO 45 MIN IN OBTAINING IFR CLEARANCES. MOMENTS AFTER TAKEOFF THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES EAST OF THE ARPT. ABOUT 1 MI EAST OF THE ARPT IS A NORTH-SOUTH RIDGE. ANOTHER PLT, WHO DEPARTED 15-20 MINS EARLIER, REPORTED ENTERING THE OVERCAST BETWEEN 400 & 700 FT AGL. GROUND WITNESSES 1 MI SE OF THE ARPT WHO HEARD THE CRASH DESCRIBED THE WX AS HEAVY FOG & MIST. ONE WITNESS ESTIMATED THE CEILING AS 100 FT AGL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N466MA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N466MA-2013-03-07), registration cancelled 2013-03-07, S/N 1540 S.A., built 1981 (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)
- Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (registry code 01514, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1540SA
- Airframe hours: 7890
- Engines: GARRETT TPE331-10511M 940 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Turbine Air Management Inc.
- Registered owner: Eternal Lamp Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 16, 1984, 857 hours before
- Departed: 22B, BURLINGTON, CT
- Destination: BDL, WINDSOR LOCKS, CT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,700 total, 3,200 in this make and model, 50,000 as pilot in command, 102 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast

## 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 19840419076029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840419076029A), Apr 19, 1984: Mtsbsi MU2B60, Burlington, CT, Destroyed. Took off for VFR flight in low ceilings, poor visibility. Struck trees and terrain near airport.

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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