# NTSB DEN92FA040: Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, N303CA, New Castle, CO, March 5, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 5, 1992, 10:02 local (17:02 UTC)
- Place: New Castle, CO
- Coordinates: 39.580799, -107.529724 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5808&lon=-107.5297&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18148
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN92FA040
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18148/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN92FA040

## Probable cause

AN INADVERTENT STALL DURING AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH WITH THE AUTOPILOT ENGAGED.  A FACTOR WAS:  THE PILOT'S PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT FROM A PRESCRIPTION DRUG.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - autopilot - selected, pilot in command
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 10.5 DME FROM THE AIRPORT WHILE EXECUTING A LOC-DME INSTRUMENT APPROACH.  THE AIRPLANE WAS CONFIGURED FOR LANDING.  THE ELEVATOR TRIM JACKSCREW WAS APPROXIMATELY 18 DEGREES NOSE UP. THE ALTITUDE PRESELECT, COUPLED TO THE SPERRY AUTOPILOT SYSTEM, WAS SET AT 9,500 FEET.  MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE UNTIL REACHING THE FINAL APPROACH FIX IS 9,500 FEET.  FINAL APPROACH FIX IS LOCATED AT 9.3 DME.  TWENTY FOUR PRESCRIPTION AND NONPRESCRIPTION DRUGS WERE FOUND ABOARD THE AIRPLANE.  THE PILOT'S TOXICOLOGY REPORT DISCLOSED 0.206 (UG/ML, UG/G) CHLORPHENIRAMINE, AN ANTIHISTAMINE, IN HIS LIVER FLUID. ACCORDING TO AN FAA FLIGHT SURGEON, THIS WOULD EQUATE TO APPROXIMATELY .034 UG/ML IN BLOOD.  THERAPEUTIC DOSAGE IS .01 TO .04 UG/ML.  THE DRUG IS CONTRAINDICATED FOR FLYING DUE TO ITS CAPABILITY OF PRODUCING DROWSINESS. CHLORPHENIRAMINE IS AN INGREDIENT FOUND IN COMTREX, ONE OF THE DRUGS FOUND ABOARD THE AIRPLANE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N303CA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N303CA-1994-07-05), registration cancelled 1994-07-05, S/N 1518SA (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: 1516 S.A.
- Engines: GARRETT TPE331-10-511 778 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Neece, S.R./Geesbreght, J.M.
- Registered owner: Neece, S.R./Geesbreght, J.M.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: FWS, FORT WORTH, TX
- Destination: RIL, RIFLE, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: RIL, Garfield County Regional, runway 26, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,265 total, 154 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft broken
- Temperature: 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RIL, 11 nm away

## 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 19920305005099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920305005099A), Mar 5, 1992: Mtsbsi MU2B60, Rifle, CO, Destroyed, 6 fatal. Wreckage indicates control lost on localizer DME approach. Pilot had minimum time for type and weather.

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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