# NTSB NYC88LA085: Mitsubishi MU-2B-35, N339MA, Philadelphia, PA, February 12, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 12, 1988, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: Philadelphia, PA
- Location: 39.8721° N, 75.2407° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at PHILADELPHIA INTL (PHL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8721&lon=-75.2407&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36099
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88LA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36099/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA085

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - wing,skin - bent
  - wing,spar - bent
  - wing,spar - cracked
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, unknown (cause)

## Analysis

THE MITSUBISHI MU-2B-35 LANDED AND DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE LEFT WING MIDWAY BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND TIP TANK AND OUTBOARD TO THE TIP TANK. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE WING SHOWED A BROKEN LOWER FRONT WING SPAR AND A BENT REAR LOWER WING SPAR. THE PILOT SAID HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE WHILE CRUISING AT 250 KTS. HE SAID HE SLOWED TO 170 KTS AND THEN RESUMED SPEED TO 250 KTS. AFTER MITSUBISHI EXAMINED THE WING, THEY SAID THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY EITHER A HARD LANDING OR LANDING WITH EXCESS FUEL IN THE TIP TANK. THEY ALSO SAID IT WAS LIKELY THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FLOWN SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE WING DAMAGE PRESENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N339MA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N339MA-1994-03-03), registration cancelled 1994-03-03, S/N 607 (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: 607
- Airframe hours: 3578
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331-6-251 724 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Epps Air
- Registered owner: Epps Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, December 21, 1987, 57 hours before
- Departed: UCA, UTICA, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PHL, Philadelphia, runway 27R, 9,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 1,862 total, 113 in this make and model, 1,146 as pilot in command, 114 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- 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 19880212002659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880212002659A), Feb 12, 1988: Mtsbsi MU2B35, Philadelphia, PA, Substantial damage. Left wing wrinkled by stress. Had cracked spur from prior hard landings.

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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