Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 accident near Scottsdale, Arizona, January 28, 1983
On January 28, 1983 at about 1:59 am local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, registered N440MA, was destroyed in an accident near Scottsdale, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 6 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- January 28, 1983 · about 1:59 am local time
- Place
- Scottsdale, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 6 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 · all MU-2B-60s on the register
- Registration
- N440MA · registry record · serial 1524 SA
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DIVERTED FROM SCOTTSDALE AZ TO A FLT COURSE TO SEDONA BECAUSE OF THUNDERSTORMS & HIGH WINDS AT SCOTTSDALE, BUT AFTER A RADIO CONVERSATION WITH SCOTTSDALE TWR, THE PLT DECIDED TO REROUTE TO LAND AT SCOTTSDALE. THE PLT DID NOT READ BACK THE WEATHER CORRECTLY TO SCOTTSDALE TWR. AFTER DESCENDING IN RAIN AND TURBULENCE, THE PLT REPORTED TO SCOTTSDALE AT1857 THAT 'WE THINK WE HAVE THE ARPT AT NINE O'CLOCK.' THE PLT WAS CLEARED TO MAKE A VISUAL APPROACH TO RWY 21. THE TWR NEVER ESTABLISHED VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE ACFT & WAS UNABLE TO MAKE FURTHER RADIO CONTACT THE LAST RECORDED RADAR CONTACT SHOWED THE ACFT AT 2200 FT DESCENDING, 2 MILES FROM SCOTTSDALE ON A BEARING OF 075 DEGREES. THE ACFT CONTACTED THE GROUND LEFT WING & NOSE LOW IN A LANDING CONFIGURATION ON A HEADING OF ABOUT 300 DEGREES. THE ACFT SLID ABOUT 770 FT, LOSING THE ENGINES, WINGS & LANDING GEAR BEFORE STOPPING. A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF PRE-IMPACT CONDITIONS THAT WOULD HAVE AFFECTED NORMAL OPERATIONS.
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; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,945 hours in all; 957 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days; 9,700 as pilot in command; 5,129 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 993 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 1, 1982; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,625 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE33110501M (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GXY Greeley CO
- Destination: SDL Scottsdale AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 21, 4,800 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:36 am from SDL, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 4 | 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.