Mitsubishi MU2B-20 accident near Belleville, Michigan, May 28, 2002
On May 28, 2002 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Mitsubishi MU2B-20, registered N54CK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belleville, Michigan (Willow Run airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to verify the extension of the landing gear prior to landing, and his failure to perform the emergency landing gear extension procedure. The popped circuit breaker was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 2002 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Belleville, Michigan · Willow Run · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU2B-20 · all MU2B-20s on the register
- Registration
- N54CK · registry record · serial 135
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged when the landing gear collapsed during landing. The pilot stated, "Prior to landing, landing gear was selected down. Circuit breaker for landing gear motor had popped. Gear was not completely down and locked. Landing was completed." During the landing, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest on its nose. Subsequent to the accident, the landing gear system was inspected. No anomalies were found with respect to the landing gear system, or the landing gear unsafe warning system.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Last flight review: March 3, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,969.3 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 10, 2000; 103 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,920 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Airesearch TPE 331-151A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kalitta Air
The flight
- Departed from: OSC Oscoda MI at 5:25 pm
- Destination: YIP Belleville MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 7,526 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KYIP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.