Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 accident near Norton Shores, Michigan, August 15, 2026
On August 15, 2026 at about 5:31 pm local time, a 1980 Mitsubishi MU-2B-40, registered N5LC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Norton Shores, Michigan (Muskegon County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 2026 · about 5:31 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Norton Shores, Michigan · Muskegon County · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-40, built 1980 · all MU-2B-40s on the register
- Registration
- N5LC · registry record · serial 433 S.A.
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while on final approach, he believed he had lowered the landing gear. He stated that during the landing, the touchdown was light and he did not realize there was an issue until he heard the lower fuselage grinding against the asphalt runway. He stated that the accident could have been prevented by confirming that the landing gear was extended and locked on short final. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Landing gear not configured during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Not used/operated other cases naming the landing gear
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,091 hours in all; 472 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 3,091 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 22, 2026
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,400 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Honeywell TPE331 (turboprop); 5,199 hours total
- Engine 2: Honeywell TPE331 (turboprop); 5,199 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MKG Muskegon MI at 4:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 6,100 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 1:23 pm from KMKG
Weather report (METAR): SPECI KMKG 151723Z 09009KT 10SM SCT025 SCT085 BKN250 26/17 A3011 RMK AO2 T02560172 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5LC on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Mitsubishi MU-2 176 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Mitsubishi 198 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Honeywell TPE331 27 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Honeywell TPE331 27 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Muskegon County · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Michigan 2,107 since 1982 · 230 in the last ten years
- Michigan 7,226 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR26LA308.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.