Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 accident near Smyrna, TN
On September 21, 1995, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Smyrna, TN. 2 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 21, 1995
- Place
- Smyrna, TN
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 2 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.980°N, 86.510°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X04541
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 21, 1995, about 0425 central daylight time, a Mitsubishi, MU-2B-35, N309MA, registered to Topflight Turbines Inc., leased to Corporate Flight Management Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight, crashed after takeoff in the vicinity of Smyrna, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The commercial pilot and the pilot-rated customer service agent sustained serious injuries. The flight originated from Smyrna Airport about 2 minutes before the accident. A witness stated he observed the airplane on climbout from runway 32 which is located about 3/4 of a mile from his house. The airplane started a right turn estimated at about a 30-to 45-degree angle of bank, stopped climbing, started a descent and was heard colliding with the terrain. The witness stated it was very dark, with no ambient light or visible horizon. The pilot-in-command and pilot-rated customer service agent were both interviewed and stated they have no memory of the accident flight. Transcripts of recorded transmission revealed that N309MA attempted to contact Nashville approach at 0424:19, to obtain an IFR clearance to Louisville, Kentucky. There were no other known radio communications from N309MA, and there was no radio transmission from Nashville approach to N309MA. Review of Nashville ATCT continuous data recording radar revealed N309MA was observed on radar at 04:24:00, climbing through 900 feet msl on a heading of 334 degrees. At 04:24:32, N309MA was at 1,600 feet msl on a heading of 009
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN A PROPER CLIMB RATE AFTER TAKEOFF, AND HIS INADVERTENT ENTRY IN A DESCENDING SPIRAL, WHICH HE FAILED TO CORRECT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, AND THE PILOT BECOMING SPATIALLY DISORIENTED DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN AN IFR CLEARANCE.
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Browse: Tennessee · Mitsubishi aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
