# NTSB FTW81FA075: Mitsubishi MU-2B, N500GL, Lajitas, TX, April 19, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 19, 1981
- Place: Lajitas, TX · LAJITAS, TX
- Location: 29.2616° N, 103.7766° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lajitas, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2616&lon=-103.7766&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 5 serious, 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 11, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125647
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FA075
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FA075

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1399  81/4/19    LAJITAS,TX          MITSUBISHI MU-2B    CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1620                    N500GL              PX-  1  5  3  CORP/EXEC                 AGE 32, 5000 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            4400 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LAJITAS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAJITAS,TX                  HOUSTON,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED WRONG RUNWAY RELATIVE TO EXISTING WIND
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISUSED OR FAILED TO USE FLAPS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO ABORT TAKEOFF
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: OTHER
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DOWNWIND
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      90
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          225                                                       12
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- 1.0% UPSLOPE RWY 5.DENS ALT 4800FT.ACFT NEAR MAX GWT,AFT CG LMT.WIND GUSTING 15K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N500GL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N500GL-1982-03-26), registration cancelled 1982-03-26, S/N 579 (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: Lajitas

## 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 19810419017619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810419017619A), Apr 19, 1981: Mtsbsi MU2B35, Lajitas, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Failed to climb on downwind. Flaps up takeoff. Struck wires off end of runway. Insufficient runway for conditions.

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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