# NTSB NYC89FA111: Mitsubishi MU-2B-35, N638MA, Syracuse, NY, March 31, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 31, 1989, 07:17 local (12:17 UTC)
- Place: Syracuse, NY
- Coordinates: 43.13097, -76.130981 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1310&lon=-76.1310&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 5 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36281
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89FA111
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36281/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89FA111

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

FAILURE OF THE CREW OF BROCKWAY FLIGHT 993 TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE OTHER AIRCRAFT DUE TO THE FIRST OFFICER'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT & THE CAPTAIN'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE WEATHER CONDITION, AND THE GROUND CONTROLLER'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE A TRAFFIC ADVISORY TO ICARUS 60.

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

FAILURE OF THE CREW OF BROCKWAY FLIGHT 993 TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE OTHER AIRCRAFT DUE TO THE FIRST OFFICER'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT & THE CAPTAIN'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE WEATHER CONDITION, AND THE GROUND CONTROLLER'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE A TRAFFIC ADVISORY TO ICARUS 60.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - drizzle/mist (contributing factor)
  - object - aircraft moving on ground (contributing factor)
  - traffic advisory - not issued, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - drizzle/mist (contributing factor)
  - object - aircraft moving on ground (contributing factor)
  - traffic advisory - not issued, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

BROCKWAY AIR FLT 993 (BE-1900C, N7254R) WAS CLRD TO LND ON RWY 28 AS ICARUS 60 (MITSUBISHI MU-2B, N638MA) WAS TAXIING TO RWY 28, VIA THE PARALLEL TWY (ALPHA). WX WAS IN PART: PTLY OBSCD, 200' OVC, VIS 3/4 MI WITH LGT DRZL & FOG, WND CALM. WHILE LNDG, FLT 993 WAS ADZD TO TURN RGT WHEN ABLE & TO CTC GND CLT 'LEAVING THE RUNWAY.' AT 1216:53 EST, FLT 993 TMTD TO GND CTL THAT THE FLT WAS OFF THE RWY. AT 1217:00, GND CTLR TOLD FLT 993 TO 'GIVE WAY TO THE MITSUBISHI, THEN TAXI TO RAMP VIA ECHO...' AT ABT THAT TIME, AN ELT ACTVTD AS THE 2 ACFT COLLIDED. INV REVEALED 1ST OFFICER OF FLT 993 MADE THE LNDG, TURNED OFF ON TWY ECHO & BGN TO CROSS TWY ALPHA. TWY ECHO ANGLED OFF THE RWY, BUT WAS NOT A HIGH SPEED TWY, THO CAPT OF FLT 993 THOUGHT IT WAS. COLLISION OCCURRED AT INTXN OF TWYS. NEITHER CREW SAW THE OTR ACFT UNTIL MOMENTS BFR IMPACT. CTLR'S VIEW OF TWY ALPHA WAS PARTLY BLOCKED BY OBSTNS; GND CLTR DID NOT ADZ ICARUS 60 OF PSN OF FLT 993 OR INSTRUCT HIM TO HOLD SHORT OF INTXN. CAPT OF ICARUS 60 HAD LOOKED AWAY FOR ANOTHER ACFT JUST BFR IMPACT.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

BROCKWAY AIR FLT 993 (BE-1900C, N7254R) WAS CLRD TO LND ON RWY 28 AS ICARUS 60 (MITSUBISHI MU-2B, N638MA) WAS TAXIING TO RWY 28, VIA THE PARALLEL TWY (ALPHA). WX WAS IN PART: PTLY OBSCD, 200' OVC, VIS 3/4 MI WITH LGT DRZL & FOG, WND CALM. WHILE LNDG, FLT 993 WAS ADZD TO TURN RGT WHEN ABLE & TO CTC GND CTL 'LEAVING THE RUNWAY.' AT 1216:53 EST, FLT 993 TMTD TO GND CTL THAT THE FLT WAS OFF THE RWY. AT 1217:00, GND CTLR TOLD FLT 993 TO 'GIVE WAY TO THE MITSUBISHI, THEN TAXI TO RAMP VIA ECHO. . .'  AT ABT THAT TIME, AN ELT ACTVTD AS THE 2 ACFT COLLIDED. INV REVEALED 1ST OFFICER OF FLT 993 MADE THE LNDG, TURNED OFF ON TWY ECHO & BGN TO CROSS TWY ALPHA. TWY ECHO ANGLED OFF THE RWY, BUT WAS NOT A HIGH SPEED TWY, THO CAPT OF FLT 993 THOUGHT IT WAS. COLLISION OCCURRED AT INTXN OF TWYS. NEITHER CREW SAW THE OTR ACFT UNTIL MOMENTS BFR IMPACT. CTLR'S VIEW OF TWY ALPHA WAS PARTLY BLOCKED BY OBSTNS; GND CTLR DID NOT ADZ ICARUS 60 OF PSN OF FLT 993 OR INSTRUCT HIM TO HOLD SHORT OF INTXN. CAPT OF ICARUS 60 HAD LOOKED AWAY FOR ANOTHER ACFT JUST BFR IMPACT.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N638MA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N638MA-1994-06-14), registration cancelled 1994-06-14, S/N 638 (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: 638
- Airframe hours: 4725
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331 665 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Eagle Aero
- Registered owner: Eagle Aero
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 23, 1989, 92 hours before
- Destination: ALB, ALBANY, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SYR, Syracuse-Hancock, runway 28, 9,003 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N7254R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7254R-2013-08-21), registration cancelled 2013-08-21, S/N UB-22, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 1900C
- Registry model: [Beech 1900C](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-1900c) (registry code 1154161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6SER TP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6ser-tp) (registry code 52045, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: UB-22
- Airframe hours: 10188
- Engines: P&W PT6A-65B 1100 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Brockway Air, doing business as Piedmont Commuter System
- Registered owner: Beech Acceptance Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 28, 1989, 18 hours before
- Departed: MSS, MASSENA, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SYR, Syracuse-Hancock, runway 28, 9,003 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N638MA; age 33; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 5,100 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N7254R; age 38; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,918 total, 1,321 in this make and model, 3,020 as pilot in command, 149 in the last 90 days, 77 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SYR, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890331010281A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890331010281A), Mar 31, 1989: Mtsbsi MU2B35, Syracuse, NY, Substantial damage. On taxi for takeoff failed to see and avoid N7254R that was entering taxiway without clearance.
- [Accident 19890331010282A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890331010282A), Mar 31, 1989: Beech 1900, Syracuse, NY, Substantial damage. Failed to hold short of taxiway or give way to N638MA taxiing on taxiway. Collided.

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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