Mitsubishi MU-2B-20 and Cessna 310C mid-air collision near Kenefic, Oklahoma, May 7, 1991
On May 7, 1991 at about 10:10 am local time, 2 aircraft, Mitsubishi MU-2B-20 (N106MA) and Cessna 310C (UNREG), were involved in a mid-air collision near Kenefic, Oklahoma (Texoma airport). 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT, AND THE MITSUBISHI PILOT'S MISJUDGMENT OF HIS POSITION, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FLY FORMATION AT NIGHT WITH AN AIRCRAFT THAT DID NOT HAVE ALL NAVIGATION LIGHTS OPERATIVE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: BOTH PILOT'S LACK OF TRAINING IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION, DARKNESS, INOPERATIVE NAVIGATION (TAIL) LIGHT ON THE CESSNA 310, AND THE LACK OF VISUAL PERCEPTION THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE TO THE MITSUBISHI PILOT.
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT, AND THE MITSUBISHI PILOT'S MISJUDGMENT OF HIS POSITION, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FLY FORMATION AT NIGHT WITH AN AIRCRAFT THAT DID NOT HAVE ALL NAVIGATION LIGHTS OPERATIVE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: BOTH PILOT'S LACK OF TRAINING IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION, DARKNESS, INOPERATIVE NAVITGATION (TAIL) LIGHT ON THE CESSNA 310, AND THE LACK OF VISUAL PERCEPTION THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE TO THE MITSUBISHI PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 1991 · about 10:10 am local time
- Place
- Kenefic, Oklahoma · Texoma · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-20 · all MU-2B-20s on the register
- Registration
- N106MA · registry record · serial 184
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 310C · all 310Cs on the register
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 35949
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Mitsubishi MU-2B-20 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOTS OF MITSUBISHI MU-2, N106MA, & A CESSNA 310 WITH NO REGISTRATION NUMBER ELECTED TO FLY IN FORMATION AT NIGHT, THOUGH NEITHER PILOT HAD FORMAL TRAINING IN FORMATION FLYING NOR EXPERIENCE IN NIGHT FORMATION. THEY JOINED UP IN FLIGHT & THE MU-2 PILOT WAS FLYING ON THE WING OF THE CESSNA 310. THE MU-2 PILOT COMMUNICATED THAT HE WAS GOING TO CHANGE POSITIONS FROM THE RIGHT SIDE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE 310C. THE CESSNA 310 PILOT & HIS PASSENGER LOST SIGHT OF THE MU-2 WHEN IT DROPPED BACK TO A POSITION IN THE REAR OF THE CESSNA 310. SOON THEREAFTER, THE 2 AIRCRAFT COLLIDED & THE MU-2 WENT OUT OF CONTROL & CRASHED. THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WAS TORN FROM THE CESSNA 310 & THE 310'S EMPENNAGE, RIGHT WING & PROPS WERE DAMAGED, BUT IT WAS LANDED WITHOUT INJURY TO ITS OCCUPANTS. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE TAIL LIGHT OF THE CESSNA 310 WAS INOPERATIVE.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 310C final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOTS OF MITSUBISHI MU-2, N106MA, & CESSNA 310 WITH NO REGISTRATION NUMBER ELECTED TO FLY IN FORMATION AT NIGHT, THOUGH NEITHER PILOT HAD FORMAL TRAINING IN FORMATION FLYING NOR EXPERIENCE IN NIGHT FORMATION. THEY JOINED UP IN FLIGHT & THE MU-2 PILOT WAS FLYING ON THE WING OF THE CESSNA 310. THE MU-2 PILOT COMMUNICATED THAT HE WAS GOING TO CHANGE POSITIONS FROM THE RIGHT SIDE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE 310C. THE CESSNA 310 PILOT & HIS PASSENGER LOST SIGHT OF THE MU-2 WHEN IT DROPPED BACK TO A POSITION IN THE REAR OF THE CESSNA 310. SOON THEREAFTER, THE 2 AIRCRAFT COLLIDED & THE MU-2 WENT OUT OF CONTROL & CRASHED. THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WAS TORN FROM THE CESSNA 310 & THE 310'S EMPENNAGE, RIGHT WING & PROPS WERE DAMAGED, BUT IT WAS LANDED WITHOUT INJURY TO ITS OCCUPANTS. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE TAIL LIGHT OF THE CESSNA 310 WAS INOPERATIVE.
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 for the Mitsubishi MU-2B-20 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,850 hours in all; 1,400 in this make and model; 312 in the last 90 days; 133 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,920 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Corporate Aviation Services
The flight
- Departed from: TUL Tulsa OK at 10:00 am
- Destination: DAL Dallas TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 310C from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,250 hours in all; 375 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 1,150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,833 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3FT Bristow OK at 9:05 am
- Destination: DAL Dallas TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
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.