Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 accident near Napa, CA
On March 12, 2004, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Napa, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 12, 2004
- Place
- Napa, CA
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.161°N, 122.294°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040319X00344
Official records · LAX04FA165
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Excerpt FAA ATC Package-Transcripts: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 11, 2004, at 2035 Pacific standard time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-40, N966MA, crashed into the Napa River under unknown circumstances, while on approach to the Napa County Airport (APC), Napa, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was destroyed. The private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that departed the Imperial County Airport (IPL), Imperial, California, at an undetermined time. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a family concerned alert notice (ALNOT) on March 15, 2004, after the pilot had not contacted family members to inform them that he had returned. Local officials and the Civil Air Patrol initiated a search on March 16, 2004, in the Napa River area. They located the airplane on March 18, 2004, in the Napa River, 3 miles south of APC. The FAA provided a summary of recorded radio transmissions, which indicated that the pilot checked in on Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) Center sector R41 frequency. At 2030, he reported leaving 6,000 feet; he also stated that he had the information for Napa Airport, and had it in sight. The controller cleared him for the approach. He advised the controller that he would like to cancel his IFR, and switch to traffic advisory frequency. At 2032, the controller cleared him to squawk 1200, and switch to advisory frequency. A Safety Board specialist plotted recorded radar d
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane following a shutdown of the left engine during a night visual approach. A factor contributing to the accident was the dark night.
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Browse: California · 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.
