Mitsubishi MU-2B-20 accident near Charlotte, North Carolina, March 23, 1984
On March 23, 1984 at about 4:47 pm local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-20, registered N5HE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Charlotte, North Carolina (Charlotte/Douglas Intl. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 23, 1984 · about 4:47 pm local time
- Place
- Charlotte, North Carolina · Charlotte/Douglas Intl. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-20 · all MU-2B-20s on the register
- Registration
- N5HE · registry record · serial 233
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
UPON LANDING THE NOSE LANDING GEAR SHEARED OFF THE ACFT. EXAM OF THE NOSE GEAR REVEALED THAT TWO FATIGUE CRACKS HAD PROPOGATED TO THE POINT OF TOTAL FAILURE. THE GEAR WAS THE SUBJECT OF AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE THAT REQUIRED INSPECTION OF THE GEAR PERIODICALLY PRIOR TO 4000 HRS TOTAL TIME. THE ACCIDENT LANDING GEAR HAD ACCUMULATED 2371 HRS TOTAL TIME.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,415 hours in all; 2,645 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 6,152 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,371 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 1983; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,920 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-A-151 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PIT Pittsburgh PA
- Destination: CLT Charlotte NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36, 7,845 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 15,000 ft; not recorded at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from CLT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.