# NTSB FTW91FA074: Mitsubishi MU-2B-20, N106MA, Kenefic, OK, May 7, 1991 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: May 7, 1991, 05:10 local (10:10 UTC) - Place: Kenefic, OK - Coordinates: 34.150859, -96.399406 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1509&lon=-96.3994&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 25, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 23257 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW91FA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23257/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91FA074 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT, AND THE MITSUBISHI PILOT'S MISJUDGMENT OF HIS POSITION, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FLY FORMATION AT NIGHT WITH AN AIRCRAFT THAT DID NOT HAVE ALL NAVIGATION LIGHTS OPERATIVE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: BOTH PILOT'S LACK OF TRAINING IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION, DARKNESS, INOPERATIVE NAVITGATION (TAIL) LIGHT ON THE CESSNA 310, AND THE LACK OF VISUAL PERCEPTION THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE TO THE MITSUBISHI PILOT. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT, AND THE MITSUBISHI PILOT'S MISJUDGMENT OF HIS POSITION, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FLY FORMATION AT NIGHT WITH AN AIRCRAFT THAT DID NOT HAVE ALL NAVIGATION LIGHTS OPERATIVE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: BOTH PILOT'S LACK OF TRAINING IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION, DARKNESS, INOPERATIVE NAVIGATION (TAIL) LIGHT ON THE CESSNA 310, AND THE LACK OF VISUAL PERCEPTION THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE TO THE MITSUBISHI PILOT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, cruise - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - planning/decision - improper, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - exterior light(s) - inoperative (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot of other aircraft - formation flying - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, cruise - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - planning/decision - improper, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - exterior light(s) - inoperative (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command - formation flying - misjudged, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual/aural perception, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE PILOTS OF MITSUBISHI MU-2, N106MA, & CESSNA 310 WITH NO REGISTRATION NUMBER ELECTED TO FLY IN FORMATION AT NIGHT, THOUGH NEITHER PILOT HAD FORMAL TRAINING IN FORMATION FLYING NOR EXPERIENCE IN NIGHT FORMATION. THEY JOINED UP IN FLIGHT & THE MU-2 PILOT WAS FLYING ON THE WING OF THE CESSNA 310. THE MU-2 PILOT COMMUNICATED THAT HE WAS GOING TO CHANGE POSITIONS FROM THE RIGHT SIDE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE 310C. THE CESSNA 310 PILOT & HIS PASSENGER LOST SIGHT OF THE MU-2 WHEN IT DROPPED BACK TO A POSITION IN THE REAR OF THE CESSNA 310. SOON THEREAFTER, THE 2 AIRCRAFT COLLIDED & THE MU-2 WENT OUT OF CONTROL & CRASHED. THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WAS TORN FROM THE CESSNA 310 & THE 310'S EMPENNAGE, RIGHT WING & PROPS WERE DAMAGED, BUT IT WAS LANDED WITHOUT INJURY TO ITS OCCUPANTS. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE TAIL LIGHT OF THE CESSNA 310 WAS INOPERATIVE. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE PILOTS OF MITSUBISHI MU-2, N106MA, & A CESSNA 310 WITH NO REGISTRATION NUMBER ELECTED TO FLY IN FORMATION AT NIGHT, THOUGH NEITHER PILOT HAD FORMAL TRAINING IN FORMATION FLYING NOR EXPERIENCE IN NIGHT FORMATION. THEY JOINED UP IN FLIGHT & THE MU-2 PILOT WAS FLYING ON THE WING OF THE CESSNA 310. THE MU-2 PILOT COMMUNICATED THAT HE WAS GOING TO CHANGE POSITIONS FROM THE RIGHT SIDE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE 310C. THE CESSNA 310 PILOT & HIS PASSENGER LOST SIGHT OF THE MU-2 WHEN IT DROPPED BACK TO A POSITION IN THE REAR OF THE CESSNA 310. SOON THEREAFTER, THE 2 AIRCRAFT COLLIDED & THE MU-2 WENT OUT OF CONTROL & CRASHED. THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WAS TORN FROM THE CESSNA 310 & THE 310'S EMPENNAGE, RIGHT WING & PROPS WERE DAMAGED, BUT IT WAS LANDED WITHOUT INJURY TO ITS OCCUPANTS. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE TAIL LIGHT OF THE CESSNA 310 WAS INOPERATIVE. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N106MA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N106MA-1996-09-03), registration cancelled 1996-09-03, S/N 184 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MITSUBISHI MU-2B-20 - Registry model: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/mitsubishi-mu-2b-20) (registry code 5780407) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 184 - Engines: GARRETT TPE-331 665 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Corporate Aviation Services - Registered owner: Corporate Aviation Services - Departed: TUL, TULSA, OK - Destination: DAL, DALLAS, TX - Airport: K49, Texoma ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 310C - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 35949 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-D 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mark O'Connor - Registered owner: Mark O'Connor - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 3FT, BRISTOW, OK - Destination: DAL, DALLAS, TX - Airport: K49, Texoma, runway 17, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N106MA; age 28; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 3,850 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 312 in the last 90 days, 133 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft 2; age 25; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,250 total, 375 in this make and model, 1,150 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F ## 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 19910507014331A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910507014331A), May 7, 1991: Mtsbsi MU2B20, Kneifer, OK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck tail of 310C while changing position during night formation flying. Unregistered 310 tail light inoperative ## Other investigations on N106MA (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI74AC059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74AC059), Jan 11, 1974: Mitsubishi MU-2B (N106MA), Elyria, OH, substantial damage 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.