Pilot Debrief

Mitsubishi MU 2B-40 near Chilton, WI — 2020-01-29

Final reportCEN20LA125
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Date
2020-01-29
Location
Chilton, WI, USA
Airport
11Y
Aircraft
Mitsubishi MU 2B-40
Registration
N425GZ
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to land on the turf runway with insufficient landing performance and his subsequent loss of control during the landing roll.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was landing the turbine-powered airplane on a 2,500-ft-long frozen, turf runway. The pilot reported to the manufacturer that, during the landing roll, the airplane yawed left and the right wing contacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies that would have resulted in a directional control issue. According to the pilot operating handbook, the airplane’s landing distance over a 50-ft for a dry, hard surface runway was about 2,500 ft. The manufacturer estimated that this distance for a wet or turf runway were about 4,250 ft. The pilot did not respond to requests for information regarding his flight planning or estimated landing distance. The pilot's decision to land on a runway that provided an inadequate distance likely resulted in an inability to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not consider landing distance for turf runway before attempting landing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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