Mitsubishi MU-2G-30 incident near Columbia, South Carolina, April 12, 1996
On April 12, 1996 at about 12:34 pm local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2G-30, registered N920S, suffered minor damage in an incident near Columbia, South Carolina (Columbia Metropolitan airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the nose landing gear bearing due to improper assembly and staking (inadequate quality control) by the manufacturer; which prevented the nose gear from retracting and the main gear from extending, and resulted in a subsequent landing on the nose gear and tail assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 1996 · about 12:34 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, South Carolina · Columbia Metropolitan · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2G-30 · all MU-2G-30s on the register
- Registration
- N920S · registry record · serial 534
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated the nose gear did not retract during the initial climb after takeoff. Emergency procedures were completed (but the nose gear would not retract and the main gear would not extend). The airplane was landed with the nose gear extended and the main gear retracted. A check of the landing gear system after landing revealed a faulty (nose gear) bearing. Examination of the bearing revealed evidence that it had not been properly assembled and staked when it was manufactured.
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: 5,600 hours in all; 1,160 in this make and model; 232 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,580 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 4, 1996
- Maximum gross weight: 10,800 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-1-151 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ATL Atlanta GA at 10:25 am
- Destination: BHM Birmingham AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:34 pm from CAE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.