Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 and Piper PA-32-301 mid-air collision near Greenwood, Indiana, September 11, 1992
On September 11, 1992 at about 7:57 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 (N74FB) and Piper PA-32-301 (N82419), were involved in a mid-air collision near Greenwood, Indiana (Greenwood Muni airport). 6 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INHERENT LIMITATIONS OF THE SEE-AND-AVOID CONCEPT OF SEPARATION OF AIRCRAFT OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES THAT PRECLUDED THE PILOTS OF THE MU-2 AND THE PA-32 FROM RECOGNIZING A COLLISION HAZARD AND TAKING ACTIONS TO AVOID THE MIDAIR COLLISION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE MU-2 PILOT TO USE ALL THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICES AVAILABLE BY NOT ACTIVATING HIS INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT PLAN BEFORE TAKEOFF. ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO FOLLOW RECOMMENDED TRAFFIC PATTERN PROCEDURES, AS RECOMMENDED IN THE AIRMAN'S INFORMATION MANUAL, FOR AIRPORT ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES. (NTSB REPORT AAR-93/05)
THE INHERENT LIMITATIONS OF THE SEE-AND-AVOID CONCEPT OF SEPARATION OF AIRCRAFT OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES THAT PRECLUDED THE PILOTS OF THE MU-2 AND THE PA-32 FROM RECOGNIZING A COLLISION HAZARD AND TAKING ACTIONS TO AVOID THE MIDAIR COLLISION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE MU-2 PILOT TO USE ALL THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICES AVAILABLE BY NOT ACTIVATING HIS INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT PLAN BEFORE TAKEOFF. ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO FOLLOW RECOMMENDED TRAFFIC PATTERN PROCEDURES, AS RECOMMENDED IN THE AIRMAN'S INFORMATION MANUAL, FOR AIRPORT ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES. (NTSB REPORT AAR-93/05)
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 1992 · about 7:57 pm local time
- Place
- Greenwood, Indiana · Greenwood Muni · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 6 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 · all MU-2B-60s on the register
- Registration
- N74FB · registry record · serial 770S.A.
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-32-301 · all PA-32-301s on the register
- Registration
- N82419 · registry record · serial 32-8006074
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PA-32, N82419, HAD BEEN RECEIVING ATC RADAR SERVICES EN ROUTE TO THE GREENWOOD MUNI ARPT. RADAR SERVICES WERE TERMINATED 3 MI FROM THE ARPT. THE MU-2, N74FB, HAD JUST TAKEN OFF FROM THE ARPT, AND HAD REPORTED TO ATC IN ANTICIPATION OF RECEIVING HIS IFR CLEARANCE. THE FLIGHT HAD NOT YET BEEN IDENTIFIED ON RADAR. THE TWO AIRPLANES COLLIDED APRX 2 MI FROM THE ARPT AT 2,100 FT MSL. THE COLLISION TOOK PLACE JUST OUTSIDE AND TO THE EAST OF THE INDIANAPOLIS AIRPORT RADAR SERVICE AREA (ARSA). THE MU-2 TRACK WAS 066 DEG, AND THE PA-32 TRACK WAS 174 DEG. THE PAX/PLT ON THE PA-32 TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE & WAS ABLE TO MAKE A CONTROLLED LANDING. GUIDANCE FOR TRAFFIC PATTERN OPERATIONS & RECOMMENDED ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE PROCEDURES IS FOUND IN THE AIRMAN'S INFORMATION MANUAL.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-32-301 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PA-32, N82419, HAD BEEN RECEIVING ATC RADAR SERVICES EN ROUTE TO THE GREENWOOD MUNI ARPT. RADAR SERVICES WERE TERMINATED 3 MI FROM THE ARPT. THE MU-2, N74FB, HAD JUST TAKEN OFF FROM THE ARPT, AND HAD REPORTED TO ATC IN ANTICIPATION OF RECEIVING HIS IFR CLEARANCE. THE FLIGHT HAD NOT YET BEEN IDENTIFIED ON RADAR. THE TWO AIRPLANES COLLIDED APRX 2 MI FROM THE ARPT AT 2,100 FT MSL. THE COLLISION TOOK PLACE JUST OUTSIDE AND TO THE EAST OF THE INDIANAPOLIS AIRPORT RADAR SERVICE AREA (ARSA). THE MU-2 TRACK WAS 066 DEG, AND THE PA-32 TRACK WAS 174 DEG. THE PAX/PLT ON THE PA-32 TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE & WAS ABLE TO MAKE A CONTROLLED LANDING. GUIDANCE FOR TRAFFIC PATTERN OPERATIONS & RECOMMENDED ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE PROCEDURES IS FOUND IN THE AIRMAN'S INFORMATION MANUAL.
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 for the Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 19,743 hours in all; 9,000 in this make and model; 92 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,098 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 29, 1992; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,625 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE331-10-511 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Solar Sources INC.
The flight
- Destination: COL Columbus OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:04 pm from IND, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-32-301 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,224 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,416 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 1992; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Indianapolis IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 DCA92MA049.