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
- 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
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.
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.
