Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, September 28, 2011
On September 28, 2011 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-25, registered N344KL, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Atlanta, Georgia (Cobb County Airport Mc Collum). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper installation of the nose landing gear strut and subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 2011 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Cobb County Airport Mc Collum · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 · all MU-2B-25s on the register
- Registration
- N344KL · no longer on the register · serial 257
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that after landing, the nose landing gear collapsed. Examination of the airplane nose strut down-lock installation revealed that the strut on the right side of the nose landing gear trunnion was installed incorrectly; the strut installed on the right was a left-sided strut. Incorrect installation of the strut could result in the bearing pulling loose from the pin on the right side of the trunnion, which could allow the nose landing gear to collapse. A review of maintenance records revealed recent maintenance activity on the nose gear involving the strut. The design of the strut is common for the left and right. Both struts have the same base part number, and a distinguishing numerical suffix is added for left side and right side strut determination. If correctly installed, the numbers should be oriented facing outboard. The original MU-2 Maintenance Manual did not address the installation or correct orientation of the strut. The manufacturer issued MU-2 Service Bulletin (SB) No. 200B, dated June 24, 1994, to address the orientation and adjustment. Service Bulletin 200B states on page 8 of 10 that the “Part Number may be visible in this (the) area from the out board sides (Inked P/N may be faded out).”
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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail gear strut/axle › Inadequate inspection
- Organizational issues › Development › Design › Design of document/info › Manufacturer
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,100 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 10,800 as pilot in command; 1,200 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 2, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,196 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 27, 2011; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,970 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Honeywell TPE331-6-251M (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Honeywell TPR331-6-251M (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Laurel Mountain Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: HSV Hunstville AL at 8:41 pm
- Destination: RYY Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 6,311 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 9:48 pm from RYY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA11LA507.