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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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June 3, 1986 · Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 · N8CC

Bartlett, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 3, 1986
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Bartlett, TX
Aircraft
Mitsubishi MU-2B-35
Tail Number
N8CC
Operator
Martinaire
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW86MA097

ABOUT 6 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, AT 2138:31 CDT, THE PLT RPRTD LEVEL AT 9000 FT MSL. AT 2140:17, HE TRANSMITTED THAT HE HAD TROUBLE & SAID HE COULD NOT CONTROL OR DISCONNECT THE AUTOPILOT (A/P) WHICH WAS CAUSING THE ACFT TO DESCEND. AT 2141:14,HE STATED HE WAS DESCENDING AT 6000 FT/MIN. ANOTHER COMPANY PLT IN ANOTHER ACFT ASKED IF HE COULD FIND THE BREAKER, MEANING THE A/P CIRCUIT BREAKER. AT 2141:27, THE PLT OF N8CC REPLIED, 'CALL YOU BACK.' SECONDS LATER, RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WITH N8CC WERE LOST. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED, BUT THE ACFT WAS NOT FND UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MORNING. AN EXAM REVEALED THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A STEEP, NOSE DOWN, INVERTED ATTITUDE WHILE AT HIGH SPEED; MUCH OF THE WRECKAGE WAS BURIED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND. WITH THE A/P ENGAGED, BACK PRESSURE ON THE CONTROL COLUMN WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE A/P TO TRIM NOSE DOWN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A PRECAUTIONARY ADVISORY TO ALL MU-2 OWNER/OPERATORS REGARDING PROPER OPERATION OF THE A/P AND THE VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH IT CAN BE DISENGAGED.

Full Narrative

ABOUT 6 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, AT 2138:31 CDT, THE PLT RPRTD LEVEL AT 9000 FT MSL. AT 2140:17, HE TRANSMITTED THAT HE HAD TROUBLE & SAID HE COULD NOT CONTROL OR DISCONNECT THE AUTOPILOT (A/P) WHICH WAS CAUSING THE ACFT TO DESCEND. AT 2141:14,HE STATED HE WAS DESCENDING AT 6000 FT/MIN. ANOTHER COMPANY PLT IN ANOTHER ACFT ASKED IF HE COULD FIND THE BREAKER, MEANING THE A/P CIRCUIT BREAKER. AT 2141:27, THE PLT OF N8CC REPLIED, 'CALL YOU BACK.' SECONDS LATER, RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WITH N8CC WERE LOST. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED, BUT THE ACFT WAS NOT FND UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MORNING. AN EXAM REVEALED THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A STEEP, NOSE DOWN, INVERTED ATTITUDE WHILE AT HIGH SPEED; MUCH OF THE WRECKAGE WAS BURIED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND. WITH THE A/P ENGAGED, BACK PRESSURE ON THE CONTROL COLUMN WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE A/P TO TRIM NOSE DOWN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A PRECAUTIONARY ADVISORY TO ALL MU-2 OWNER/OPERATORS REGARDING PROPER OPERATION OF THE A/P AND THE VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH IT CAN BE DISENGAGED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:42 CDT
Nearest Airport4nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMitsubishi MU-2B-35
Tail NumberN8CC
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorMartinaire
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsAiresearch · TPE 331 · Turboprop · 715
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 41 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind110° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3800 ft
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time02:42
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data