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NTSB Report

October 17, 1985 · Mitsubishi MU-2B-2D · N23CD

El Paso, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 17, 1985
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
El Paso, TX
Aircraft
Mitsubishi MU-2B-2D
Tail Number
N23CD
Operator
Air Exchange
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW86FA015

THE PLT CANCELED HIS IFR FLT PLAN AND ATTEMPTED TO FLY VFR AT A RELATIVELY LOW ALT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WITH LOW SCATTERED CLOUDS ON A DARK NIGHT. HE REPORTED A LARGE LIGHTED AREA AS BEING DOWNTOWN EL PASO WHEN IN REALITY IT WAS MOST LIKELY CORONADO HILLS, A DEVELOPMENT ON THE WEST SIDE OF FRANKLIN MOUNTAIN LOCATED APRX 4 MILES NORTH OF THE SOUTH END OF THE MOUNTAIN. THIS WAS PROBABLY DUE TO HAVING JUST DESCENDED FROM IFR CONDITIONS INTO VFR CONDITIONS. HIS FAMILIARITY WITH THE AREA, COMBINED WITH HIS METHOD OF FLT OPERATION (AS RELATED BY A PROFESSIONAL AQUAINTANCE), PROBABLY GAVE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY AND OVER CONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY.

Full Narrative

THE PLT CANCELED HIS IFR FLT PLAN AND ATTEMPTED TO FLY VFR AT A RELATIVELY LOW ALT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WITH LOW SCATTERED CLOUDS ON A DARK NIGHT. HE REPORTED A LARGE LIGHTED AREA AS BEING DOWNTOWN EL PASO WHEN IN REALITY IT WAS MOST LIKELY CORONADO HILLS, A DEVELOPMENT ON THE WEST SIDE OF FRANKLIN MOUNTAIN LOCATED APRX 4 MILES NORTH OF THE SOUTH END OF THE MOUNTAIN. THIS WAS PROBABLY DUE TO HAVING JUST DESCENDED FROM IFR CONDITIONS INTO VFR CONDITIONS. HIS FAMILIARITY WITH THE AREA, COMBINED WITH HIS METHOD OF FLT OPERATION (AS RELATED BY A PROFESSIONAL AQUAINTANCE), PROBABLY GAVE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY AND OVER CONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time22:01 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMitsubishi MU-2B-2D
Tail NumberN23CD
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorAir Exchange
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsGarrett · TPE3311151A · Turboprop · 665
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 32 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind300° @ 14 kt, gusting 22 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 55
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time05:09
Weather SourceWIT

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Appendix: Source Data