# NTSB DEN01LA032: Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, N130MS, Aspen, CO, December 21, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 21, 2000, 15:22 local (22:22 UTC)
- Place: Aspen, CO
- Coordinates: 39.18943, -106.819587 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1894&lon=-106.8196&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 26, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 50823
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50823/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA032

## Probable cause

A hard landing which exceeded the design stress limits of the aircraft.

## Analysis

During landing from a visual approach at the conclusion of an IFR cross-country flight, the touchdown was hard and the aircraft was in a crab.  The right main landing gear tire blew out on touchdown and damage was incurred to the right main landing gear assembly, right main landing gear brake system, right propeller, and the right fuselage wall was penetrated by debris.

## Factual narrative

On December 21, 2000, at 1522 mountain standard time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, received substantial damage during a hard landing at Aspen, Colorado.  The commercial pilot and his two passengers were not injured. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and an IFR flight plan was filed.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this cross-country flight, which departed McCook, Nebraska, at 1349.

According to observers at the Aspen airport, runway 15 was in use and the aircraft landed hard in a crab.  The right main landing gear tire blew out on touchdown, damaging the right main landing gear brake system, right main landing gear assembly, right propeller, and the right side of the fuselage was penetrated by pieces from the blown tire.

In his narrative concerning the accident, the pilot said the right man tire blew out at touchdown and he stopped the aircraft on the runway and conducted an evacuation.

Wind at the time of the landing was from 220 degrees at 5 knots.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,tire - burst
  - landing gear,main gear - bent
  - landing gear,anti-skid brake system - disabled
  - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N130MS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N130MS), registered now, S/N 750SA (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: 750SA
- Airframe hours: 4150
- Engines: Garrett TPE331-10 625 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Prima Group Traders, Inc.
- Registered owner: Prima Group Marketing, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 20, 2000, 10 hours before
- Departed: MCK, MCCOOK, NE
- Destination: ASE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ASE, Pitkin County, runway 15, 7,004 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,293 total, 493 in this make and model, 1,293 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ASE

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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