Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 accident near Aspen, Colorado, December 21, 2000
On December 21, 2000 at about 10:22 pm local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, registered N130MS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aspen, Colorado (Pitkin County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A hard landing which exceeded the design stress limits of the aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 21, 2000 · about 10:22 pm local time · cases in 2000
- Place
- Aspen, Colorado · Pitkin County · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 · all MU-2B-60s on the register
- Registration
- N130MS · registry record · serial 750SA
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing from a visual approach at the conclusion of an IFR cross-country flight, the touchdown was hard and the aircraft was in a crab. The right main landing gear tire blew out on touchdown and damage was incurred to the right main landing gear assembly, right main landing gear brake system, right propeller, and the right fuselage wall was penetrated by debris.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,293 hours in all; 493 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,293 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,150 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 20, 2000; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,575 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE331-10 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Prima Group Traders, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MCK Mccook NE at 8:49 pm
- Destination: ASE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 15, 7,004 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:20 pm from ASE
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N130MS on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Mitsubishi MU-2 177 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Mitsubishi 199 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Garrett TPE331-10 7 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field · nearest airport
- MC Cook Ben Nelson Regional · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 384 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,455 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN01LA032.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.