# NTSB DEN03LA075: Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, N157CA, Salt Lake City, UT, April 18, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 18, 2003, 03:25 local (09:25 UTC) - Place: Salt Lake City, UT - Coordinates: 40.788333, -111.961112 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7883&lon=-111.9611&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 56896 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA075 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56896/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA075 ## Probable cause the pilot improperly aligning the airplane on the runway for takeoff. Contributing factors were the reduced visibility due to rain, and the dark night. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - proper alignment - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - object - runway light ## Analysis Visibility was greater than 6 miles, but was restricted due to moderate to heavy rain as the pilot started his takeoff roll on runway 35. Near rotation speed, he felt a tire blow out followed by some hydroplaning. He aborted the takeoff and taxied back to the ramp. Airplane inspection revealed substantial damage to the left engine and cowling, propeller, and landing gear. In addition, the pressure vessel was breached. The pilot surmised that he had aligned the airplane with the left side runway edge lights instead of the centerline lights. He attributed this to his "vision being partially obstructed by moderate rain." Postaccident examination revealed 15 to 20 runway lights were either damaged or destroyed. ## Factual narrative On April 18, 2003, at 0325 mountain daylight time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, N157CA, operated by American Check Transport, d/b/a Flight Line, Inc., of Denver, Colorado, was substantially damaged when it collided with runway edge lights during takeoff at Salt Lake City International Airport, Salt Lake City, Utah. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan had been filed for the nonscheduled domestic cargo flight operating as ACT flight 900 under Title 14 CFR Part 135. The flight was originating at the time of the accident, and its destination was Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado. The following is based on the accident report submitted by the pilot-in-command. "The visibility was greater than 6 miles, but was restricted due to moderate to heavy rain," he wrote. He was cleared for takeoff on runway 35 and he "lined up on centerline for a northbound departure." At near rotation speed (95 knots), he felt a tire blow out. There was some hydroplaning, so he aborted the takeoff and taxied back to the ramp. Airplane inspection revealed substantial damage to the left engine and cowling, propeller, and landing gear. In addition, the pressure vessel was breached. The pilot surmised that he had aligned the airplane with the left side runway edge lights instead of the centerline lights. He attributed this to his "vision being partially obstructed by moderate rain." Postaccident examination revealed 15 to 20 runway lights were either damaged or destroyed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N157CA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N157CA-2011-07-14), registration cancelled 2011-07-14, S/N 1558S.A, built 1982 (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: 1558S.A - Engines: Garrett TPE 331-10 715 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: American Check Transport, doing business as Flight Line, Inc. - Registered owner: Flight Line, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SLC, Salt Lake City, UT - Destination: APA, Englewood, CO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SLC, Salt Lake City International, runway 35, 9,596 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 21, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 3,485 total, 103 in this make and model, 3,402 as pilot in command, 220 in the last 90 days, 73 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 210° at 3 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: SLC ## 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 20030418004589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030418004589A), Apr 18, 2003: Mtsbsi MU2B60, Salt Lake City, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot of ACT900, a cargo-only part 135 flight, was cleared for takeoff on runway 35 at Salt Lake City International Airport at approximately 0325 MDT… 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.