NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On January 18, 2010, at 1405 eastern standard time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, N80HH, was destroyed when it impacted terrain during an instrument approach to runway 07 (5,002 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) at the Lorain County Regional Airport (LPR), Elyria, Ohio. The pilot, the pilot-rated passenger in the right seat, and two passengers seated in the cabin received fatal injuries. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight departed the Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV), Gainesville, Florida, about 1100, and was en route to LPR. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed.

Air Traffic Control (ATC) transcripts indicated that the airplane was approaching LPR on a heading of 325 degrees. At 1335:51, ATC informed the pilot that he could expect radar vectors for the instrument landing system (ILS) Runway 07 approach to LPR.

At 1345:53, ATC informed the pilot that he was 4 ½ miles from RAWLS, the final approach fix for the localizer (LOC) Rwy 07 approach, and instructed him to turn right to a heading of 050 degrees, maintain 2,600 feet mean sea level (msl) until established on the localizer. The flight was cleared for the ILS Runway 07 approach. The pilot acknowledged the clearance.

Radar track data indicated that the airplane flew through the inbound course of 070 degrees and continued on a 055 degree heading. At 1347:03, ATC instructed the pilot to turn to 090 degrees to intercept the inbound course. The ATC controller also stated, “I didn’t adjust for the wind there.” At 1347:19, ATC instructed the pilot to turn to 100 degrees and asked the pilot if he wanted to continue the approach, or take radar vectors to get reestablished on the inbound course, since he would be intercepting the inbound course near or at RAWLS. The pilot elected to continue the approach.

At 1348:27, ATC instructed the pilot to change radio frequency to LPR’s advisory frequency. The pilot acknowledged the frequency change.

At 1349:33, the pilot advised ATC that he was executing a missed approach. The radar track data indicated that the airplane’s altitude during the approach was never lower that 1,500 feet msl. The decision height for the ILS Runway 07 approach was 994 feet msl.

At 1350:29, ATC instructed the pilot to climb to 2,500 feet msl and turn left to a heading of 280 degrees for radar vectors for the ILS Runway 07 final approach course. The pilot requested that the controller extend the outbound leg to provide more time to get established on the inbound course. The radar track data indicated that the airplane was about 11 miles from the airport before it turned inbound to intercept the inbound localizer course.

At 1358:18, ATC instructed that pilot to turn left to 100 degrees, maintain 2,600 feet msl until established on the localizer, and he was cleared for the ILS Runway 7 approach. The pilot acknowledged the clearance.

At 1901:12, ATC instructed the pilot to change to the advisory frequency. The pilot acknowledged the frequency change.

Radar track data indicated that the airplane’s altitude increased to about 3,000 feet msl when it turned inbound and intercepted the localizer. The altitude was about 2,200 feet msl when it crossed RAWLS (The altitude at RAWLS is depicted as 2,263 feet msl). The airplane continued inbound and the altitude continued to decrease. The radar track data indicated that the airplane was about 1 mile from runway 07 when the altitude was about 1,300 feet msl (about 506 feet above ground level (agl)). The last radar return indicated that the airplane’s altitude was about 1,000 feet msl. The radar track data indicated that the airplane’s heading started to go left of the centerline when it was about 1,400 feet msl, and it continued to “drift” left until the last radar return. The last radar return was about 0.19 miles (about 1,000 feet) left of centerline. The linear distance from the last recorded radar return to the initial impact point was about 750 feet.

A witness, who was waiting at the airport for the airplane to arrive, reported that he heard the radio transmission on the Unicom frequency and was looking to the west to observe the airplane as it landed. He reported that he saw the airplane as it descended out of the clouds. He stated that it was in a nose low attitude, rolling to the right into a steep right turn (initially he thought it might have been a left turn) with the wings at almost a 90 degree position relative to the ground. He stated that the airplane was “definitely out of control” when he saw it. A “huge cloud of snow” was created by the subsequent impact and when it cleared, he observed the airplane wreckage at the west end of the airport property. He stated that it happened very fast - “in the blink of an eye.” He reported that the airplane’s landing light was not turned on.

Another witness reported that he heard the airplane as it was approaching his house near the airport. He stated that he looked out a window and saw the airplane about 150 feet above the ground. Using an airplane model to describe the airplane’s flight profile, he indicated that he observed the airplane in about a 60 degree nose low attitude with about an 80 degree angle of bank to the right.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The 30-year-old pilot held an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate for single-engine land airplanes, multi-engine land airplanes, and helicopters. He was also a certified flight instructor with single-engine airplane, multi-engine airplane, and helicopter ratings; and he was an instrument instructor in airplanes and helicopters. The pilot's latest first class medical certificate was issued on November 29, 2007.

The pilot’s flight logbook was not obtained during the course of the investigation. On April 15, 2009, the pilot had reported on an aircraft insurance form that as of 4/15/2009 he had a total of 2,010 flight hours. He had 1,285 multi-engine flight hours with 1,250 hours flown in the MU-2 make and model. He had 231 flight hours in helicopters. He recorded 290 hours of flight in actual instrument conditions. He flew 180 hours in the MU-2 within the preceding 12 months, and had flown 30 hours of instrument flying within the preceding 12 months.

The pilot’s training records were obtained from the SimCom Training Center located in Orlando, Florida. The training records indicated that the pilot obtained his initial MU-2 simulator training in October of 2002. Records indicated that the pilot returned to SimCom for recurrent MU-2 simulator training on a yearly basis. On January 28, 2009, the pilot attended the SimCom Training Center and received a certificate signifying that he had satisfactorily completed a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 108 compliant MU-2 Recurrent course for the MU-2B-60 model. The pilot was scheduled to return to SimCom for recurrent MU-2 simulator training on January 25 – 27, 2010.

The owner of the airplane reported that the pilot was a competent pilot and was qualified to fly the MU-2 single pilot. The owner and the accident pilot routinely flew together, and they would switch pilot and copilot responsibilities. He stated that they routinely flew in instrument conditions and had often flown IFR approaches in actual instrument conditions. He stated that the accident pilot was a good instrument pilot and that there were no issues with his flying or his technique. The pilot had worked for the owner of the airplane for about 13 years.

The pilot rated passenger held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating. His flight logbook was not obtained during the course of the investigation. During his third class medical examination on October 10, 2008, the pilot reported that his total flight time was 190 hours. The airplane owner reported that the pilot rated passenger was not performing the duties of copilot during the flight. The pilot rated passenger had flown with the pilot on numerous other flights, including flights from GNV to LPR. He also held an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic rating. He was employed by the airplane owner to maintain the accident airplane and a helicopter operated by the owner.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane was a twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, serial number 732, and was certified for single-pilot operations. Its maximum gross weight was 11,575 pounds and it seated 10. The Honeywell TPE-331-10 engines were flat rated to 715 shaft horsepower. The last annual maintenance inspection was conducted on April 3, 2009. The airplane had flown approximately 90 hours since the last annual inspection and had a total time of 6,799 hours. At the last annual inspection, both the left and right engines had 2,910.4 hours time since overhaul (TSO).

A review of the airplane’s maintenance records indicated that Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2000-09-15 was complied with. The AD required that a de-ice monitoring system, an automatic autopilot disconnect system, and a trim-in-motion alert system be installed on the airplane. The AD was intended to assist in preventing departure from controlled flight while operating in icing conditions.

The maintenance records indicated that the airplane’s autopilot roll servo had been replaced on September 23, 2009, with an overhauled unit. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had all the autopilot primary servo’s and trim servo’s removed for inspection.

A Bendix KLN-94 GPS was installed in the airplane. The KLN-94 automatically switches to NAV when a localizer frequency is selected by the pilot. Therefore, the NAV sensing is automatic and the course deviation indicator (CDI) correctly displays the localizer.

METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS

At 1353, the surface weather observation at LPR indicated the following conditions: Winds 240 degrees at 9 knots, 2 miles visibility, mist, overcast 500 feet, temperature -1 degree Celsius (C), dew point -3 degrees C, altimeter 29.93 inches of mercury (Hg).

The National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Depiction Charts for 1100 and 1400 depicted an extensive area of IFR conditions over the region. The closest VFR conditions were over 200 miles south of the accident site.

The NWS Pittsburg 0700 sounding depicted a moist low-level environment with the lifted condensation level at 407 feet agl. The sounding had a relative humidity of 80 percent or more from the surface to approximately 8,000 feet. The freezing level was at the surface and the entire sounding was below freezing even with several temperature inversions noted between 7,500 and 10, 900 feet.

The NWS Current Icing Product indicated an approximately 70 to 80 percent probability of icing conditions below 3,000 feet in the vicinity of the accident site at 1400.

Numerous pilot reports indicated that there was an extensive overcast layer of clouds extending over Ohio with bases from 100 to 1,200 feet and tops at 2,200 to 3,800 feet. There were 12 reports of light rime to mixed type icing, and 4 reports of light to moderate intensity icing conditions in clouds below 3,000 feet.

A Cessna Citation XL landed at LPR about 10 to 15 minutes prior to the time of the accident. The Citation pilot reported that they flew the ILS Runway 07 approach and did a circle to land maneuver to runway 25. The pilot reported that they entered the clouds at 3,000 feet above msl and received radar vectors for the approach. He stated that the visibility was good above the clouds and there was no turbulence in the clouds. They leveled off at the Minimum Descent Altitude and flew the right hand circling pattern at 1,300 to 1,350 feet msl (about 500 to 550 feet agl). He said they had 3 miles visibility and he remained clear of clouds during the circle to land maneuver. The airplane’s anti-icing and deicing equipment were on during the approach. He observed about 1/8 inch of ice on the nose of the airplane when they pulled the airplane into the hangar. He reported that the airplane was in the clouds for about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes.

The ATC transcripts of the Cleveland Approach Controller, who was handling the accident airplane during the instrument approach, indicated that the controller had stated that the tops of the clouds were about 3,000 – 3,100 feet msl with light rime or mixed icing. He stated that the wind was 210 degrees at 30 knots at 8,000 feet msl and that there was “similar wind down low.”

AIRPORT INFORMATION

The approach plate for the ILS or LOC RWY 7 approach indicated the following information:

1) The localizer frequency was 111.7.

2) The runway length was 5,002 feet and the airport elevation was 794 feet.

3) The approach course was 070 degrees.

4) The glide slope/glide path intercept altitude was 2,400 feet msl.

5) The straight-in landing minimums were 994 feet msl decision height with a 1/2 mile visibility.

6) The circling approach landing minimums were 1,240 feet msl minimum descent altitude with 1 mile visibility.

7) Missed approach: Climb to 1,400 feet, then climbing left turn to 3,000 feet via heading 270 degrees, then left turn direct to DJB VOR/DME and hold.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The airplane impacted a field within the airport’s boundary. The initial impact point was about 2,150 feet west of runway 07 threshold and about 720 feet north of the extended centerline of runway 07. The wreckage path was about 194 feet long and was oriented on a heading of about 100 degrees magnetic. The wings and landing gear separated from the fuselage. The cockpit cabin had partially separated from the rest of the fuselage during the impact sequence, but the flight control cables were not severed. The empennage remained attached to the fuselage. There was no post impact fire.

A piece of the green navigational lens and the strake from the right wing tip tank were found near the initial impact point. A crater about 6 feet wide by 7 feet long and 18 – 24 inches deep was located about 21 feet east of the initial impact point. The four-bladed right propeller and the right wing flap were located near the crater. The right wing tip tank was located about 61 feet along the wreckage path. The outboard section of the right wing was located about 79 feet along the wreckage path. The left engine was located about 123 feet along the wreckage path with the propeller still attached, but with two blades missing from the hub. The two other blades were located in the debris field. The cockpit and fuselage were located about 143 - 170 feet from the initial impact point. The left wing was separated from the fuselage, but was located next to the main wreckage. The left wing tip tank and the right engine were located about 170 feet and 179 feet along the wreckage path, respectively. One of the left propeller blades was located 194 feet from the initial impact point.

The on-site inspection of the wreckage revealed the deformation of the right wing tip tank was about 60 degrees to the left. The inspection revealed that the landing gear was extended and the flaps were set to 5 degrees. The pitch trim indicator was about 15 degrees nose up, the rudder trim indicator was about 1 – 2 degrees right, and the aileron trim was neutral. The trim surfaces corresponded to the indicated trim settings. The power levers were forward and above the flight idle position. The left condition lever was found forward of the stop and the handle was broken. The right condition lever was found on the forward stop at the Take-off/Land position. The generator switches and the battery master switches were found in the OFF position. The left engine auto-ignition switch was found in the Continuous position, and the right engine auto-ignition switch was found in the Auto-ignition position.

The inspection of the overhead switch panel revealed that it had impact damage that cracked the panel through the middle of the switches. The switches in the overhead switch panel were in the OFF position. The four top lights on the Anti-Ice panel were intact. When 24-volts was applied to each light bulb, the light went on. The four bottom lights on the Anti-Ice panel could not be tested

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the instrument approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.