# NTSB FTW80FA042: Mitsubishi MU-2B, N346MA, Houston, TX, February 14, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 14, 1980
- Place: Houston, TX · HOUSTON, TX
- Location: 29.7633° N, 95.3633° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Houston, TX, within about 14 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7633&lon=-95.3633&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 7, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132008
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FA042
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FA042

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0561  80/2/14  NR.HOUSTON,TX         MITSUBISHI MU-2B    CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1902                    N346MA              PX-  3  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  45, 12500 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            800 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HOUSTON INTERCONT
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CORPUS CHRISTI,TX          HOUSTON,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - WIND SHEAR
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALTIMETER SETTING-INCORRECT
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    600
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          FOG                                                      HEAD WIND 338-022 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           61                                                      140
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           6                                                       IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- CRASHED DRG ILS APCH APRX 5MI BEHIND BOEING 727.ALTMS SET .05 BLO CORRECT SETTING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N346MA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N346MA-1980-07-02), registration cancelled 1980-07-02, S/N 613, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MITSUBISHI MU-2B
- Registry model: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-35](https://openairdocs.org/model/mitsubishi-mu-2b-35) (registry code 5780411) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Houston Intercont

## 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 19800214002929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800214002929A), Feb 14, 1980: Mtsbsi MU2B35, Houston, TX, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Too low on final IFR approach. Struck trees short of runway.

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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