# NTSB FTW86MA097: Mitsubishi MU-2B-35, N8CC, Bartlett, TX, June 3, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: June 2, 1986, 21:42 local (Jun 3, 1986, 02:42 UTC)
- Place: Bartlett, TX
- Coordinates: 30.789161, -97.420394 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7892&lon=-97.4204&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
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22168
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW86MA097
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22168/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86MA097

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - autopilot/flight director - undetermined (contributing factor)
  - emergency procedure - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - descent - uncontrolled
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

ABOUT 6 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, AT 2138:31 CDT, THE PLT RPRTD LEVEL AT 9000 FT MSL. AT 2140:17, HE TRANSMITTED THAT HE HAD TROUBLE & SAID HE COULD NOT CONTROL OR DISCONNECT THE AUTOPILOT (A/P) WHICH WAS CAUSING THE ACFT TO DESCEND. AT 2141:14,HE STATED HE WAS DESCENDING AT 6000 FT/MIN. ANOTHER COMPANY PLT IN ANOTHER ACFT ASKED IF HE COULD FIND THE BREAKER, MEANING THE A/P CIRCUIT BREAKER. AT 2141:27, THE PLT OF N8CC REPLIED, 'CALL YOU BACK.'  SECONDS LATER, RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WITH N8CC WERE LOST. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED, BUT THE ACFT WAS NOT FND UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MORNING. AN EXAM REVEALED THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A STEEP, NOSE DOWN, INVERTED ATTITUDE WHILE AT HIGH SPEED; MUCH OF THE WRECKAGE WAS BURIED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND. WITH THE A/P ENGAGED, BACK PRESSURE ON THE CONTROL COLUMN WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE A/P TO TRIM NOSE DOWN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A PRECAUTIONARY ADVISORY TO ALL MU-2 OWNER/OPERATORS REGARDING PROPER OPERATION OF THE A/P AND THE VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH IT CAN BE DISENGAGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8CC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8CC-1993-10-20), registration cancelled 1993-10-20, S/N 569 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MITSUBISHI MU-2B-35
- Registry model: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-35](https://openairdocs.org/model/mitsubishi-mu-2b-35) (registry code 5780411) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 569
- Airframe hours: 3293
- Engines: AIRESEARCH TPE 331 715 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Martinaire, Inc.
- Registered owner: Barron Thomas Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 3, 1986, 42 hours before
- Departed: AUS, AUSTIN, TX
- Destination: DFW, D/FW AIRPORT, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,268 total, 152 in this make and model, 5,018 as pilot in command, 116 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AUS, 35 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 19860602024669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860602024669A), Jun 2, 1986: Mtsbsi MU2B35, Bartlett, TX, Destroyed. The pilot reported an autopilot problem before ground impact. Suspect elevator trim servo malfunction.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.