Mitsubishi MU-2B-26 accident near West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1983
On April 15, 1983 at about 2:17 am local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-26, registered N79AC, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Mifflin, Pennsylvania (Allegheny Company airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. 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
- April 15, 1983 · about 2:17 am local time
- Place
- West Mifflin, Pennsylvania · Allegheny Company · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-26 · all MU-2B-26s on the register
- Registration
- N79AC · registry record · serial 338
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE INCREASED THE POWER, AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE AIRSPEED, WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, TO COMPENSATE FOR STRONG WINDS AND TURBULENCE. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 150 DEG. AT 18 GUSTING 28 KTS. REPORTEDLY, THE ACFT CROSSED OVER THE THRESHOLD OF RWY 10 AT AN AIRSPEED THAT WAS 30 KTS FASTER THAN NORMAL. THE PLT STATED THE ACFT LANDED HARD ON THE LEFT MAIN GEAR FIRST, THEN BEGAN TO LEAN TO THE LEFT. AT SOME POINT, THE LEFT PROPELLER HIT THE RWY AND SPARKS FLEW. THE PLT STATED THAT HE THEN PULLED UP THE ACFT, RETRACTED THE GEAR, SHUT DOWN BOTH ENGINES AND LANDED GEAR UP. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE TIPS OF THE LEFT PROPELLER HAD SHEARED OFF AND PENETRATED THE LEFT TIP TANK. ALSO, THE BELLY, GEAR DOORS AND LANDING GEAR WERE DAMAGED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 3,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,287 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1982; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,930 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Airesearch TPE-331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W07 Fredericksburg VA at 1:35 am
- Destination: AGC West Mifflin PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 10, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 18 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.