# NTSB FTW86FA015: Mitsubishi MU-2B-2D, N23CD, El Paso, TX, October 17, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 16, 1985, 23:01 local (Oct 17, 1985, 04:01 UTC)
- Place: El Paso, TX
- Coordinates: 31.799018, -106.360038 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7990&lon=-106.3600&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21874
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW86FA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21874/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86FA015

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr procedures - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - became lost/disoriented - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT CANCELED HIS IFR FLT PLAN AND ATTEMPTED TO FLY VFR AT A RELATIVELY LOW ALT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WITH LOW SCATTERED CLOUDS ON A DARK NIGHT. HE REPORTED A LARGE LIGHTED AREA AS BEING DOWNTOWN EL PASO WHEN IN REALITY IT WAS MOST LIKELY CORONADO HILLS, A DEVELOPMENT ON THE WEST SIDE OF FRANKLIN MOUNTAIN LOCATED APRX 4 MILES NORTH OF THE SOUTH END OF THE MOUNTAIN. THIS WAS PROBABLY DUE TO HAVING JUST DESCENDED FROM IFR CONDITIONS INTO VFR CONDITIONS. HIS FAMILIARITY WITH THE AREA, COMBINED WITH HIS METHOD OF FLT OPERATION (AS RELATED BY A PROFESSIONAL AQUAINTANCE), PROBABLY GAVE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY AND OVER CONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N23CD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N23CD-2013-08-07), registration cancelled 2013-08-07, S/N 142, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MITSUBISHI MU-2B-2D
- Registry model: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/mitsubishi-mu-2b-20) (registry code 5780407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [AiResearch 331 SER 605HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-331-ser-605hp) (registry code 01502, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 142
- Airframe hours: 4616
- Engines: GARRETT TPE3311151A 665 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Air Exchange Inc.
- Registered owner: Aero Action Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, August 19, 1985, 57 hours before
- Departed: ABQ, ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Destination: ELP, EL PASO, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 9,500 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 300° at 14 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ELP, 6 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 19851016052519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851016052519A), Oct 16, 1985: Mtsbsi MU2B20, El Paso, TX, Destroyed. Struck a cloud obscured mountainside while trying to land. Had cancelled IFR but reentered clouds while circling.

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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