Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 accident near Amarillo, Texas, February 4, 2010
On February 4, 2010 at about 8:15 am local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, registered N644EM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Amarillo, Texas (Amarillo International airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of directional control while landing on an ice/snow covered runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 4, 2010 · about 8:15 am local time
- Place
- Amarillo, Texas · Amarillo International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 · all MU-2B-60s on the register
- Registration
- N644EM · registry record · serial 1534 S.A.
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on approach to the snow and ice-covered runway, the pilot was correcting for a right crosswind. The airplane was flying approximately 20 knots faster than the recommended landing airspeed. The airplane's right main landing gear touched down first followed by the left main landing gear and the nose gear. The airplane made an abrupt left turn and the pilot attempted to correct by depressing the right rudder pedal. The pilot lost control of the airplane and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The right main landing gear was torn from the airplane and the airplane came to rest in the upright position. Airfield operations reported that the runway's braking condition was estimated at "nil." An examination of the airplane and its systems revealed no anomalies.
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
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Snow/slush/ice covered › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Physical › Alertness/Fatigue › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,954 hours in all; 9,277 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 12,822 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 23, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,019 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 11, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 11,575 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Honeywell TPE331-10-511 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Honeywell TPE331-10-511 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mid-Coast Air Charter INC
The flight
- Departed from: KDFW Dallas/Fort Wor TX at 7:11 am
- Destination: KAMA Amarillo TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 04, 13,502 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Sky: vv at 110 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 8:11 am from KAMA, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN10LA117.