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Accidents · NTSB CEN20LA215 · Final report

Mitsubishi MU2B accident near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, June 7, 2020

On June 7, 2020 at about 9:25 am local time, a 1981 Mitsubishi MU2B, registered N44MX, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Joe Foss Field). It was a business flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
June 7, 2020 · about 9:25 am local time
Place
Sioux Falls, South Dakota · Joe Foss Field · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person was killed.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Mitsubishi MU2B 60, built 1981 · all MU2Bs on the register
Registration
N44MX · registry record · serial 1526 S.A.
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The pilot departed on a cross country flight in a turbine-powered, multiengine airplane at night and in visual meteorological conditions. Recovered GPS data revealed that as the airplane accelerated down the runway, it drifted to the right of the runway centerline. A video recording showed that shortly after takeoff, the airplane rolled right, the nose dropped, and the airplane impacted the ground. It came to rest on its left side with both wings separated and the fuselage was highly fragmented forward of the main landing gear. A post-accident examination of the airframe and engines found no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A witness that spoke to the pilot shortly before the accident flight stated that the pilot exhibited difficulty in completing some paperwork; however, no medical reasoning for this difficulty could be determined based upon the available evidence. The investigation determined that at the time of the accident the pilot had been on duty for about 19 hours and 20 minutes, which was contrary to duty and rest regulations. At his estimated arrival time into the destination, the pilot would have accumulated about 20 hours and 54 minutes of duty time. The investigation was unable to determine if the pilot took advantage of the opportunity for rest that existed during the day, and therefore could not determine if fatigue contributed to the accident. Investigators were unable to determine the reason for the loss of control on takeoff with the available information.

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

  1. Unknown or undetermined during takeoff defining event

The NTSB's findings

  • Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined

Pilot

  • Certificate: commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 22,000 hours in all; 10,900 in this make and model
  • Last flight review: September 11, 2019
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: fatal

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 12,104 hours
  • Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 6, 2019
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine 1: Honeywell TPE331-10-511 (turboprop); 12,591 hours total
  • Engine 2: Honeywell TPE331-10-511 (turboprop); 12,405 hours total
  • Operator: Mcneely Charter Service, Inc.

The flight

  • Departed from: FSD Sioux Falls SD at 9:25 am
  • Destination: OKK Kokomo IN
  • Flight plan: IFR
  • Runway 15, 8,000 ft by 150 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: night
  • Wind: from 150° at 13 knots, gusting 27
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
  • Observation at 3:56 am from KFSD

Weather report (METAR): METAR KFSD 070856Z AUTO 15013G27KT 10SM CLR 26/22 A2976 RMK AO2 PK WND 16027/0856 SLP066 T02560222 58008

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

31 documents, released by the NTSB on March 4, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.

#DocumentWhat it is
1 Operations/human Performance Factual Report PDF, 13 pages View Download
2 Operations/human Performance Factual Report Attachment 1_INTERVIEWS PDF, 283 pages View Download
3 Operations/human Performance Factual Report Attachment 2_TRAINING Records PDF, 6 pages View Download
4 Operations/human Performance Factual Report Attachment 3_EXEMPTION 18510 PDF, 8 pages View Download
5 Operations/human Performance Factual Report Attachment 4_FLIGHT and Duty Records PDF, 20 pages View Download
6 Operations/human Performance Factual Report Attachment 5_REVOCATION Letter PDF, 6 pages View Download
7 Operations/human Performance Factual Report Attachment 6_OPSPEC A001 PDF, 3 pages View Download
8 Operations/human Performance Factual Report Attachment 7_KLEINER Legal Interpretation PDF, 4 pages View Download
9 Operations/human Performance Factual Report Attachment 8_LEGAL Interpretation to NTSB PDF, 3 pages View Download
10 Witness PDF, 3 pages View Download
11 Personal Electronic Device - Specialist's Factual Report PDF, 8 pages View Download
12 Multiple Electronic Devices (Avionics) - Specialist's Factual Report PDF, 21 pages View Download
13 Attachment 1 to Multiple Electronic Devices (Avionics) - Specialist's Factual Report data file Download
14 Personal Electronic Devices (Ipads) - Specialist's Factual Report PDF, 4 pages View Download
15 Powerplants Group Chairman's Factual Report PDF, 49 pages View Download
16 Powerplants- Attachment 1- No. 1 Engine (P36058C) Propeller Governor Test Report PDF, 2 pages View Download
17 Powerplants- Attachment 2- Honeywell No. 1 Engine (P36058C) Materials Laboratory Report PDF, 14 pages View Download
18 Powerplants- Attachment 3- No. 1 Engine (P36058C) Soap Report PDF, 4 pages View Download
19 Powerplants- Attachment 4- No. 2 Engine (P36235C) Fuel Control Test Report PDF, 7 pages View Download
20 Powerplants- Attachment 5- No. 2 Engine (P36235C) Propeller Governor Test Report PDF, 2 pages View Download
21 Powerplants- Attachment 6- No. 2 Engine (P36235C) Fuel Pump Test Report PDF, 2 pages View Download
22 Powerplants- Attachment 7- Honeywell No. 2 Engine (P36235C) Materials Laboratory Report PDF, 23 pages View Download
23 Powerplants- Attachment 8- No. 2 Engine (P36235C) Soap Report PDF, 5 pages View Download
24 Medical Factual Report PDF, 2 pages View Download
25 Cargo Weight Information PDF, 3 pages View Download
26 Materials Laboratory Lightbulb Examination PDF, 6 pages View Download
27 Photos PDF, 1 page View Download
28 Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation PDF, 4 pages View Download
29 Toxicological Report PDF, 1 page View Download
30 Video File MOV file Download
31 Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 PDF, 2 pages View Download

The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.

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.