Mitsubishi MU-2B-35J N54US

Summary

On 17 February 1989 at about 15:13 local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-35J registered N54US was involved in an accident near Spokane, Washington, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 February 1989 at 15:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Spokane, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Spokane Int'l (GEG)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Mitsubishi MU-2B-35J

Registration

N54US

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Seattle → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

SEA89LA061

Nobody was injured.

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: LIGHT CONDITIONS AT DAWN, SNOW AND ICE ON THE RUNWAY, AND THE RUNWAY LIGHTS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE LANDING AT DAWN WITH SNOW & ICE ON THE RWY, THE ACFT DRIFTED LEFT INTO RUNWAY LIGHTS, WHICH WERE BURIED IN A SNOW BERM FROM PREVIOUS PLOWING. THE PLT SAID THERE WAS 16 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE GND & UP TO 2 INCHES ON THE RWY. HE SAID HE THOUGHT HE HAD LANDED ON THE CENTERLINE, LOST CONTROL IN A SNOWDRIFT, THEN THE ACFT DRIFTED INTO SNOW ADJACENT TO THE RWY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.