Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 accident near West Columbia, SC
On January 19, 1996, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 (airplane) was involved in an accident near West Columbia, SC. 2 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 19, 1996
- Place
- West Columbia, SC
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 2 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.940°N, 81.151°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X05169
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 19, 1996, about 0923 eastern standard time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, N50KW, registered to and operated by Bankair, Inc., experienced a loss of control while on short final approach to land at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, West Columbia, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR clearance was received for the 14 CFR Part 91 maintenance test flight. The airplane was destroyed and the airline transport-rated pilot and a passenger/company mechanic were seriously injured. The flight originated about 0905 from the accident airport. The pilot stated that he has no recollection of the accident. The purpose of the flight according to company maintenance personnel was to document engine parameters in flight following installation of the left and right engines after maintenance. The company mechanic stated after both engines were started and a Negative Torque Sensing (NTS) check of both engines on the ground was accomplished with no evidence of malfunction. The pilot then requested taxi clearance and advised that the flight had Airport Terminal Information Service (ATIS) "Juliet." The flight was cleared to taxi then takeoff and to fly and maintain 5,000 feet which the pilot acknowledged. The mechanic stated that both he and the pilot discussed the procedures to accomplish an NTS check in flight to include altitude and airspeed to fly the airplane. The mechanic reported using his own checklist for the NTS in-flight check of the left engine first and stated that it took 20 seconds for the engine rpm to decrease from
Probable cause
a total loss of power on one engine for undetermined reasons, and the pilot-in-command's failure to maintain airspeed (VMC) resulting in an in-flight loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the wind gusts encountered while on final approach to land.
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Browse: South Carolina · 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.
