Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 and Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 accident near Teterboro, New Jersey, February 9, 1990
On February 9, 1990 at about 6:15 am local time, 2 aircraft, Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 (N349MA) and Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 (N533DM), were involved in the same accident near Teterboro, New Jersey (Teterboro airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT OF N349MA FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID ANOTHER AIRPLANE TAXIING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
THE PILOT OF N349MA FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID ANOTHER AIRPLANE TAXIING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 1990 · about 6:15 am local time
- Place
- Teterboro, New Jersey · Teterboro
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 · all MU-2B-35s on the register
- Registration
- N349MA · registry record · serial 615
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 · all MU-2B-35s on the register
- Registration
- N533DM · registry record · serial 652
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF N349MA WAS TAXIING BEHIND AND IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS N533DM. THE PILOT OF N349MA GOT DISTRACTED BY SOMETHING HE THOUGHT WAS IN HIS WAY. HE DID NOT SEE N533DM IN TIME TO STOP, STRIKING N533DM'S ELEVATER AND RUDDER WITH THE LEFT WING TIP FUEL TANK.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF N349MA WAS TAXIING BEHIND AND IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS N533DM. THE PILOT OF N349MA GOT DISTRACTED BY SOMETHING HE THOUGHT WAS IN HIS WAY. HE DID NOT SEE N533DM IN TIME TO STOP, STRIKING N533DM'S ELEVATOR AND RUDDER WITH THE LEFT WING TIP FUEL TANK.
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 for the Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,800 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 3,600 as pilot in command; 1,360 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,165 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,800 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-6 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Epps Air Service
The flight
- Destination: BWI Baltimore MD
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,300 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 4,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-6 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Epps Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: BOS Boston MA at 4:30 am
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
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 N349MA 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.