Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 accident near Parker, CO
On August 4, 2005, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Parker, CO. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 4, 2005
- Place
- Parker, CO
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.492°N, 104.847°W
- NTSB ID
- 20050810X01193
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 4, 2005, approximately 0206 mountain daylight time, a twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 turbo-prop airplane, N454MA, was destroyed upon impact with terrain near Parker, Colorado, while on an instrument approach to the Centennial Airport (APA), near Denver, Colorado. The instrument rated commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Flight Line, Incorporated, of Watkins, Colorado. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), near Salt Lake City, Utah, approximately 0040. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the on-demand air cargo flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. A review of air traffic control communications revealed that the pilot received radar vectors to intercept the localizer course for the instrument landing system (ILS) RWY 35R approach and was instructed to maintain an altitude of 8,000 feet mean sea level (msl) until established on the localizer course. When the airplane was approximately four miles south of CASSE intersection (the final approach fix), an approach controller cleared the flight for the instrument approach. The pilot acknowledged the clearance and shortly after he was instructed to contact Centennial Tower. At 0204:46, the pilot contacted Centennial Tower, but there was no response. He tried again at 0205:05. At 0205:19, a tower controller responded and cleared the flight to land on Runway 35R. The pilot acknowledged.
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to fly a stabilized instrument approach at night which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing factors were; the dark night, low clouds, the inadequate design and function of the airport facility’s Minimum Safe Altitude Warning System (MSAW), and the FAA’s inadequate procedure for updating information to ATC controllers.
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Browse: Colorado · 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.
