# NTSB FTW85LA183: Mitsubishi MU2J, N808W, Patterson, LA, April 15, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 14, 1985, 20:55 local (Apr 15, 1985, 02:55 UTC)
- Place: Patterson, LA
- Coordinates: 29.689754, -91.299514 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6898&lon=-91.2995&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21722
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA183
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21722/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA183

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, landing
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airport facilities,runway edge lights - inadequate (cause)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - information unclear, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - water,glassy
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ON VISUAL FINAL APCH TO THE ARPT AT NIGHT THE ACFT ENTERED GROUND FOG. REFLECTION OF THE LANDING LIGHTS IN THE FOG WAS DISTRACTING. THE ACFT LANDED IN THE ADJACENT SEAPLANE LANDING AREA INSTEAD OF ON THE HARD SURFACE RWY. A SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE APRT DISCLOSED DIFFERENCIATION BTW THE COLORED LIGHTS OF THE WATERWAY AND THE WHITE LIGHTS ON THE RWY WAS ONLY EFFECTIVE WHEN BOTH SETS OF LIGHTS WERE VISIBLE, A CONDITION WHICH IS LESS LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN IT IS MOST NEEDED; I.E. IN CONDITIONS OF REDUCED VISIBILITY OR AT LOWER ALTITUDES ABOVE THE GROUND. THE INSPECTION ALSO REVEALED THE WATERWAY LIGHTS WERE BRIGHTER; THE INTENSITY OF THE RWY LIGHTS COULD NOT BE CHANGED BY RADIO.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N808W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N808W-1991-04-15), registration cancelled 1991-04-15, S/N 609 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MITSUBISHI MU2J
- Registry model: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-35](https://openairdocs.org/model/mitsubishi-mu-2b-35) (registry code 5780411) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 609
- Airframe hours: 4300
- Engines: GARRETT TPE331-6-251M 724 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Commander Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 1, 1985, 20 hours before
- Departed: T86, HOUSTON, TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: PTN, Patterson, runway 22, 4,500 × 100 ft, water

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 12,070 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19850414014549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850414014549A), Apr 14, 1985: Mtsbsi MU2B35, Patterson, LA, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed on waterway at night. Pilot mistook brighter lights for paved runway. Ground fog a factor.

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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