Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 accident near Broomfield, Colorado, November 21, 1992
On November 21, 1992 at about 1:40 am local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-25, registered N473FW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Broomfield, Colorado (Jefferson County airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A FAILURE BY FBO PERSONNEL TO PROPERLY CONNECT THE NOSE WHEEL TORQUE LINK AFTER TOWING THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 21, 1992 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Broomfield, Colorado · Jefferson County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 · all MU-2B-25s on the register
- Registration
- N473FW · no longer on the register · serial 269
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IN PREPARATION FOR A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WITH TAKEOFF OCCURRING DURING A SNOW STORM, THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED IN THE HANGAR AND TOWED OUT BY FBO PERSONNEL. FOLLOWING THE TOW, THE TORQUE LINK WAS NOT PROPERLY CONNECTED AND SEPARATED DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN. DUE TO A LOSS OF NOSE WHEEL STEERING, THE TAKEOFF WAS ABORTED. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY DURING THE ABORT AND THE NOSE WHEEL WAS SHEARED OFF CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH ENGINES, WINGS, THE FUSELAGE, AND LANDING GEAR.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,753 hours in all; 4,200 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 1,346 as pilot in command; 1,085 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,406 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 23, 1991; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,200 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE331-6 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BJC at 1:40 am
- Destination: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 29, 9,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 010° at 12 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from BJC, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.
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.