# NTSB LAX83FA083: Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, N440MA, Scottsdale, AZ, January 28, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 27, 1983, 18:59 local (Jan 28, 1983, 01:59 UTC)
- Place: Scottsdale, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.609161, -111.889617 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6092&lon=-111.8896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23418
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23418/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA083

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather evaluation - inaccurate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - wind information - misread, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT DIVERTED FROM SCOTTSDALE AZ TO A FLT COURSE TO SEDONA BECAUSE OF THUNDERSTORMS & HIGH WINDS AT SCOTTSDALE, BUT AFTER A RADIO CONVERSATION WITH SCOTTSDALE TWR, THE PLT DECIDED TO REROUTE TO LAND AT SCOTTSDALE. THE PLT DID NOT READ BACK THE WEATHER CORRECTLY TO SCOTTSDALE TWR. AFTER DESCENDING IN RAIN AND TURBULENCE, THE PLT REPORTED TO SCOTTSDALE AT1857 THAT 'WE THINK WE HAVE THE ARPT AT NINE O'CLOCK.' THE PLT WAS CLEARED TO MAKE A VISUAL APPROACH TO RWY 21. THE TWR NEVER ESTABLISHED VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE ACFT & WAS UNABLE TO MAKE FURTHER RADIO CONTACT THE LAST RECORDED RADAR CONTACT SHOWED THE ACFT AT 2200 FT DESCENDING, 2 MILES FROM SCOTTSDALE ON A BEARING OF 075 DEGREES. THE ACFT CONTACTED THE GROUND LEFT WING & NOSE LOW IN A LANDING CONFIGURATION ON A HEADING OF ABOUT 300 DEGREES. THE ACFT SLID ABOUT 770 FT, LOSING THE ENGINES, WINGS & LANDING GEAR BEFORE STOPPING. A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF PRE-IMPACT CONDITIONS THAT WOULD HAVE AFFECTED NORMAL OPERATIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N440MA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N440MA-2014-10-14), registration cancelled 2014-10-14, S/N 1524 S.A., built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MITSUBISHI MU-2B-60
- Registry model: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-60](https://openairdocs.org/model/mitsubishi-mu-2b-60) (registry code 5780460) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (registry code 01514, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1524 SA
- Airframe hours: 993
- Engines: GARRETT TPE33110501M 940 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mitsumarq Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 1, 1982, 83 hours before
- Departed: GXY, GREELEY, CO
- Destination: SDL, SCOTTSDALE, AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: runway 21, 4,800 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 9,945 total, 957 in this make and model, 9,700 as pilot in command, 81 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 280° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SDL, 2 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 19830127059269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830127059269A), Jan 27, 1983: Mtsbsi MU2B60, Scottsdale, AZ, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Aircraft crashed approaching airport for landing. Turbulence and heavy rain were reported at accident scene.

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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