Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 accident near Salt Lake City, Utah, April 18, 2003
On April 18, 2003 at about 9:25 am local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, registered N157CA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salt Lake City, Utah (Salt Lake City International airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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 improperly aligning the airplane on the runway for takeoff. Contributing factors were the reduced visibility due to rain, and the dark night.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 2003 · about 9:25 am local time · cases in 2003
- Place
- Salt Lake City, Utah · Salt Lake City International · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 · all MU-2B-60s on the register
- Registration
- N157CA · registry record · serial 1558S.A
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Visibility was greater than 6 miles, but was restricted due to moderate to heavy rain as the pilot started his takeoff roll on runway 35. Near rotation speed, he felt a tire blow out followed by some hydroplaning. He aborted the takeoff and taxied back to the ramp. Airplane inspection revealed substantial damage to the left engine and cowling, propeller, and landing gear. In addition, the pressure vessel was breached. The pilot surmised that he had aligned the airplane with the left side runway edge lights instead of the centerline lights. He attributed this to his "vision being partially obstructed by moderate rain." Postaccident examination revealed 15 to 20 runway lights were either damaged or destroyed.
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; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,485 hours in all; 103 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 73 in the last 30 days; 3,402 as pilot in command; 894 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 21, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 11,575 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE 331-10 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SLC Salt Lake City UT at 9:25 am
- Destination: APA Englewood CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 35, 9,596 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 210° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 am from SLC
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N157CA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Mitsubishi MU-2 176 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Mitsubishi 198 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Garrett TPE 331-10 7 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Salt Lake City International · nearest airport
- Centennial Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Utah 1,440 since 1982 · 263 in the last ten years
- Utah 8,354 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN03LA075.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.