Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 accident near North Adams, Massachusetts, March 18, 1983
On March 18, 1983 at about 4:55 pm local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, registered N473MA, was destroyed in an accident near North Adams, Massachusetts (Harriman-West airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- March 18, 1983 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- North Adams, Massachusetts · Harriman-West
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 · all MU-2B-60s on the register
- Registration
- N473MA · no longer on the register · serial 1547 SA
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT 1145 THE PLT REPORTED VFR CONDITIONS & REQUESTED RADAR VECTORS TO THE ARPT. HE WAS ISSUED A CRUISE CLEARANCE OF 5,000 FT & GIVEN A HEADING. 18 MI FROM THE ARPT HE REPORTED VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. AT 1151 HE WAS ASKED IF HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA TO WHICH HE RESPONDED NEGATIVE. HE WAS THEN ADVISED OF RISING TERRAIN IN ALL QUADRANTS, INCLUDING A MOUNTAIN '...TO ALMOST 3700 FEET, 3 MILES SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT.' AT 1154 THE PLT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ARPT WAS LESS THAN A MILE AT 12 O'CLOCK. THE ACFT IMPACTED A MOUNTAIN 2 MI SOUTH OF THE ARPT AT ABOUT 2,700 FT MSL. A WITNESSDESCRIBED THE SKY CONDITIONS AS A LOW CEILING WITH CLOUDS OBSCURING THE MOUNTAIN PEAKS. THE ARPT IS UNCONTROLLED & HAS NO PUBLISHED INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,450 hours in all; 9,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 5, 1983; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,625 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Airesearch TPE-331-10 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TEB Teterboro NJ at 4:12 pm
- Destination: 2B6 North Adams MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0, 4,300 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from ALB, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.