Mitsubishi MU-2B-30 accident near Alamagordo, New Mexico, June 25, 1992
On June 25, 1992 at about 5:25 am local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-30, registered N108SC, was destroyed in an accident near Alamagordo, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 6 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO EXERCISE ADEQUATE VFR DEPARTURE TERRAIN AVOIDANCE PROCEDURES, AND THE FAILURE OF THE CONTROLLER TO ISSUE A SAFETY ALERT TO THE PILOT. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA, THE DARK NIGHT, AND THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 1992 · about 5:25 am local time
- Place
- Alamagordo, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 6 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-30 · all MU-2B-30s on the register
- Registration
- N108SC · registry record · serial 545
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLT HAD DEPARTED THE ALAMAGORDO WHITE SANDS REGIONAL ARPT AFTER A FUEL STOP. THE PILOT HAD EARLIER INDICATED TO ATC THAT HE WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE AREA. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AT 2321 THE PILOT WAS INFORMED THAT DEPARTURE RADAR WAS OUT OF SERVICE. THE FLT DEPARTED WITH A VFR DEPARTURE. AT 2324 THE PILOT WAS ADVISED THAT RADAR WAS BACK IN SERVICE, AND CONFIRMED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLIMBING THRU 5,300 FT. DISCUSSION ENSUED BETWEEN THE PILOT AND CONTROLLER CONCERNING TERRAIN CLEARANCE. AT 2324 THE PILOT INDICATED HE WAS TURNING LEFT DUE TO NOT BEING SURE IF A HILL WAS IN HIS PATH. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A MOUNTAIN AT 6,100 FT MSL, 1,500 FT BELOW THE SUMMIT. THE MINIMUM VECTORING ALTITUDE IN THE AREA WAS 11,000 FT.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,072 hours in all; 1,095 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 9,036 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,251 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 31, 1992; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,802 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE331-1-151A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ALM at 5:22 am
- Destination: T27 Burnet TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 am from HMN, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.