Mitsubishi MU-2B-20 accident near San Angelo, Texas, May 21, 1985
On May 21, 1985 at about 5:32 pm local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-20, registered N711LL, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Angelo, Texas (Mathis airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- May 21, 1985 · about 5:32 pm local time
- Place
- San Angelo, Texas · Mathis
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-20 · all MU-2B-20s on the register
- Registration
- N711LL · no longer on the register · serial 180
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PIECE OF UNIDENTIFIED EQUIPMENT REPORTEDLY WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED DURING PREVIOUS MAINTENANCE. THE EQUIPMENT REPORTEDLY WAS MOUNTED IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE NOSE WHEEL EXTENSION/RETRACTION MECHANISM AND MOVED DUE TO ACFT VIBRATION PREVENTING THE NOSE GEAR FROM BEING EXTENDED. A LANDING WAS MADE WITH THE MAIN GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED AND THE NOSE GEAR IN THE RETRACTED POSITION.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 8,930 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-1-151 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LBB Lubbock TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 6,920 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:32 pm from SJT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.