# NTSB NYC90LA066: Mitsubishi MU-2B-35, N349MA, Teterboro, NJ, February 9, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 9, 1990, 01:15 local (06:15 UTC)
- Place: Teterboro, NJ
- Location: 40.8501° N, 74.0608° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at TETERBORO (TEB), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8501&lon=-74.0608&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 8, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36609
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90LA066
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36609/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90LA066

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

THE PILOT OF N349MA FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID ANOTHER AIRPLANE TAXIING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

THE PILOT OF N349MA FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID ANOTHER AIRPLANE TAXIING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

## 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
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - aircraft moving on ground
- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff
  - distance - misjudged, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - object - aircraft moving on ground

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

THE PILOT OF N349MA WAS TAXIING BEHIND AND IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS N533DM. THE PILOT OF N349MA GOT DISTRACTED BY SOMETHING HE THOUGHT WAS IN HIS WAY. HE DID NOT SEE N533DM IN TIME TO STOP, STRIKING N533DM'S ELEVATOR AND RUDDER WITH THE LEFT WING TIP FUEL TANK.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

THE PILOT OF N349MA WAS TAXIING BEHIND AND IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS N533DM. THE PILOT OF N349MA GOT DISTRACTED BY SOMETHING HE THOUGHT WAS IN HIS WAY. HE DID NOT SEE N533DM IN TIME TO STOP, STRIKING N533DM'S ELEVATER AND RUDDER WITH THE LEFT WING TIP FUEL TANK.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: N349MA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MITSUBISHI MU-2B-35
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 615
- Airframe hours: 5165
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331-6 665 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Epps Air Service
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: BWI, BALTIMORE, MD
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: TEB, Teterboro

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N533DM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N533DM-2006-09-12), registration cancelled 2006-09-12, S/N 652, built 1974 (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)
- Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (registry code 01514, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 652
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331-6 665 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Epps Air Service
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: BOS, BOSTON, MA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: TEB, Teterboro

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N349MA; age 30; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 3,800 total, 200 in this make and model, 3,600 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N533DM; age 36; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 4,300 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 4,200 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 36 °F

## FAA reports on this event (2)

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

- [Incident 19900209001751I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900209001751I), Feb 9, 1990: Mtsbsi MU2B36, Teterboro, NJ, Minor damage. Taxied into the rear of another aircraft, N533DM, on taxiway. Lost its left wing tip tank.
- [Incident 19900209001789I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900209001789I), Feb 9, 1990: Mtsbsi MU2B35, Teterboro, NJ, Minor damage. Aircraft was struck from behind by N349MA while taxiing on taxiway.

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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