Mitsubishi MU-2B accident near Schellville, California, July 14, 1982
On July 14, 1982, a Mitsubishi MU-2B, registered N27GP, was destroyed in an accident near Schellville, California (Schellville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- July 14, 1982
- Place
- Schellville, California · Schellville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B · all MU-2Bs on the register
- Registration
- N27GP · registry record · serial 027
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT APPROXIMATELY 800 FT DOWN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY THE LEFT ENG EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS. THE ACFT SWERVED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY COLLIDING WITH A DRAINAGE DITCH & COMING TO REST INVERTED. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT REVEALED THAT THE BELLOWS WITHIN THE ASSEMBLY WERE FOUND IN AN EXTENDED POSITION, INDICATING A LEAK INTO THE EVACUATED AREA. A FAILURE WAS NOTED AT THE SEAM IN THE BELLOWS. IN ADDITION, EXAMINATION OF THE PROPELLER REVEALED THAT THE START LOCKS WERE ENGAGED & THE BLADES WERE AT THE START LOCK POSITION AT IMPACT. IN ORDER TO ENGAGE THE START LOCKS, THE POWERLEVER HAS TO BE MOVED TO REVERSE DURING SHUTDOWN WITH THE ENG RPM BELOW 50%. AFTER ENG START THE PLT MUST AGAIN RETARD THE POWER LEVERS TO REVERSE TO DISENGAGE THE START LOCKS. THE LOCKS WILL NOT DISENGAGE AFTER THE POWER LEVER IS SET TO THE FLIGHT RANGE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 134 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 6,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,254 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,930 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Airesearch TPE 331-25AA (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0Q3 Schellville CA at 5:45 pm
- Destination: OAK Oakland CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 2,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 176°F (80°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N27GP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.