Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 accident near Richfield, Utah, November 5, 1983
On November 5, 1983 at about 2:30 am local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, registered N477MA, was involved in an accident near Richfield, Utah (Richfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 5, 1983 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Richfield, Utah · Richfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 · all MU-2B-60s on the register
- Registration
- N477MA · registry record · serial 1551S.A.
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT PROPELLER STRUCK A 12 YEAR OLD MALE PASSENGER AFTER HE DEPLANED. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON AN UNLIGHTED RAMP AT ABOUT 1930 HOURS MST. THE BOY HAD WALKED FORWARD ALONG THE FUSELAGE TO LOOK INTO THE COCKPIT WHEN HE WAS HIT. HIS FATHER WAS IN THE COCKPITS LEFT SEAT. THE SHUTDOWN OF ENGINES HAD BEEN SLOW THE PLT SAID BECAUSE THIS WAS BASICALLY A TRAINING MISSION. THE LEFT PROPELLER WAS WINDMILLING TO A STOP WHEN THE BOY WAS HIT. ACCORDING TO THE LINE CREWS THIS BOY WAS KNOWN TO JUMP OUT THE ACFT AND RUN AROUND THE RAMP. THE COMPANY PRESIDENT WHO WAS THE ACTING PLT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT SAID 'THE BOY EXITED THE ACFT AGAINST INSTRUCTIONS AND VERBAL WARNINGS.'
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 1,774 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 195 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 195 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,575 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett 1TFE 731 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SLC Salt Lake City UT at 1:50 am
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.