Mitsubishi MU 2B-25 N553T

Summary

On 22 August 2015 at about 22:00 local time, a Mitsubishi MU 2B-25 registered N553T was involved in an accident near Arvin, California, 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

22 August 2015 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Arvin, California, United States

Nearest airport

Paradise Lakes (7CA2)

Coordinates

35.1758, -118.9228

Aircraft

Mitsubishi MU 2B-25

Registration

N553T

Category

Airplane

Year built

1974

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Arvin → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA15CA303

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while taxiing into position for takeoff on a narrow private airstrip, resulting in the left wing striking a tree.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the twin-engine, high-wing airplane, reported that while positioning the airplane for takeoff on a narrow private airstrip, the left wing impacted a tree, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with airplane single engine land rating, but did not hold a multi-engine rating. The Federal Aviation Administration has published the Airplane Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-3A (2004). This handbook discusses multi-engine ground handling and states in part: Good habits learned with single-engine airplanes are directly applicable to multiengine airplanes for preflight and engine start. Upon placing the airplane in motion to taxi, the new multiengine pilot will notice several differences, however. The most obvious is the increased wingspan and the need for even greater vigilance while taxiing in close quarters. Ground handling may seem somewhat ponderous and the multiengine airplane will not be as nimble as the typical two- or four-place single-engine airplane. As always, use care not to ride the brakes by keeping engine power to a minimum. One ground handling advantage of the multiengine airplane over single engine airplanes is the differential power capability. Turning with an assist from differential power minimizes both the need for brakes during turns and the turning radius.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.