Mitsubishi MU-2B-30 accident near Lubbock, Texas, January 21, 1983
On January 21, 1983 at about 5:50 am local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-30, registered N555CH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lubbock, Texas (Lubbock Int'L. airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- January 21, 1983 · about 5:50 am local time
- Place
- Lubbock, Texas · Lubbock Int'L. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-30 · all MU-2B-30s on the register
- Registration
- N555CH · no longer on the register · serial 508
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER A NORMAL APPROACH, TOUCHDOWN & INITIAL ROLL-OUT, THE ACFT VEER RIGHT & STRUCK A 3 TO 4 FT SNOWBANK. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT SNOW HAD BEEN FALLING FOR OVER 12 HRS & AN 80 FT WIDE PATH HAD BEEN PLOWED DOWN THE CENTER OF THE RUWWAY. THERE WAS 3 INCHES OF SNOW REMAINING IN THE PLOWED AREA. NO ICE WAS REPORTED, BUT THE BRAKING ACTION WAS REPORTED AS NIL. THE PLT REPORTED THAT A PREVIOUS ICE STORM HAD DEPOSITED 1/4 TO 1/2 INCH OF ICE ON THE RUNWAY BEFORE SNOW BEGAN TO FALL. THE PRESENCE OF ICE HAD BEEN INDICATED EARLIER IN THE DAY WHEN A BOEING 737 HAD SLID OFF OF A TAXIWAY. THE PLT STATED THAT HAD HE KNOWN ABOUT THE ICE, HE WOULD NOT HAVE LANDED.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,056 hours in all; 988 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 5,699 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,708 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 26, 1982; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,930 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-6252M (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MAF Midland TX at 11:10 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17R, 11,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 060° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 am from LBB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.