Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 accident near Cleveland, Ohio, January 28, 2003
On January 28, 2003 at about 5:15 am local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, registered N941MA, suffered minor damage in an accident near Cleveland, Ohio (Burke Lakefront airport). It was flown 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
the bank couriers inadequate visual lookout, as he approached an airplane with operating engines. A factor was the lack of guidance and training from the bank, for working around airplanes with operating engines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 28, 2003 · about 5:15 am local time
- Place
- Cleveland, Ohio · Burke Lakefront · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 · all MU-2B-60s on the register
- Registration
- N941MA · registry record · serial 744SA
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The bank courier for the federal reserve bank drove his vehicle onto the ramp, and helped load the accident airplane. He then drove to another nearby airplane and assisted in the loading of that airplane. He then found two bags that belonged on the accident airplane. In the mean time, the pilot of the accident airplane had closed the door, secured his cargo, and started his engines. After the line person gave the pilot the OK to taxi, the pilot momentarily looked inside the cockpit to remove the propellers from the start locks. When he looked up, the bank courier was walking toward the left propeller holding two bags. The courier walked into the rotating propeller of the left engine as the pilot was attempting to shut it down. Witnesses reported the navigation lights and red rotating beacons were illuminated on the accident airplane. Witnesses also reported that nothing in the bank courier actions gave them concern. Interviews disclosed the bank had an on-the-job training program, but it did not include any training about the hazards of working around airplanes with operating engines, nor did the bank have a policy about approaching and/or loading airplanes with the engines operating.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,584 hours in all; 2,703 in this make and model; 254 in the last 90 days; 82 in the last 30 days; 5,462 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 11, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,056.5 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 16, 2002; 193.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,575 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Garrett-Airesearch TPE331-10-511 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Garrett-Airesearch TPE331-10-511 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BKL Cleveland OH
- Destination: MDW Chicago OH
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 am from BKL
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.
Other NTSB records under N941MA 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.