# NTSB MKC69A0039: Mitsubishi MU-2B, N3550X, Springfield, MO, December 21, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 21, 1968
- Place: Springfield, MO · SPRINGFIELD, MO
- Location: 37.2153° N, 93.2982° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Springfield, MO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2153&lon=-93.2982&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 28, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 191941
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC69A0039
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC69A0039

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4630  68/12/21 NR.SPRINGFIELD,MO     MITSUBISHI MU-2B    CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1010                    N3550X              PX-  4  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 AGE 35, 2910 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            100 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- MALFUNCTION OF ARTIFICIAL HORIZON AND TURN NEEDLE. ACFT OBSERVED TO CRASH FROM VERTICAL DIVE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3550X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3550X-1970-06-25), registration cancelled 1970-06-25, S/N 018, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MITSUBISHI MU-2B
- Registry model: [Mitsubishi MU-2B](https://openairdocs.org/model/mitsubishi-mu-2b) (registry code 5780404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed

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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