Mitsubishi MU-2B-26A accident near Princeton, Kentucky, April 3, 2010
On April 3, 2010 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-26A, registered N29WD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Princeton, Kentucky (Princeton-Caldwell County Airp airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll for undetermined reasons, resulting in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 2010 · about 6:30 pm local time · cases in 2010
- Place
- Princeton, Kentucky · Princeton-Caldwell County Airp · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-26A · all MU-2B-26As on the register
- Registration
- N29WD · registry record · serial 355 S.A.
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, after landing on the centerline about 800 feet beyond the runway threshold, the airplane veered sharply to the right and exited the right side of the runway. Observation of the windsock by the pilot during final approach showed negligible wind. After exiting the runway, the pilot added full power in an attempt to fly over a ditch and collided with a fence. Examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed tire marks approximately 400 feet down the runway from the initial touchdown point and the marks continued approximately 1,500 feet off of the right side of the runway through grass until the airplane collided with the fence. After the accident, the pilot reported that he believed something caused the power to drop or the propeller changed pitch on the right engine which resulted in the sharp veer to the right. A postaccident examination of all landing gear linkages, engine power, and propeller controls did not reveal anomalies other than impact damage. Flight control continuity was established through all flight controls to their respective control surfaces, and no other mechanical anomalies were noted. No physical evidence was found to conclusively determine the reason for excursion.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 31, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,151 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 13, 2009; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,400 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Garrett TPE 331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Garrett TPE 331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Whiskey Delta LLC
The flight
- Departed from: RIL Rifle CO at 2:10 pm
- Destination: 2M0 Princeton KY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 4,099 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from HOP, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 11, 2011. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-faa Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Reports from Parties to the Investigation-mistubishi Field Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N29WD 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 7 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Garrett TPE 331 7 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Princeton-Caldwell County · nearest airport
- Rifle Garfield County · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Kentucky 702 since 1982 · 111 in the last ten years
- Kentucky 2,980 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA10LA204.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.