Two Fatal Mishaps In Nine Months Fuel Drive To Keep Mitsubishis From Flying

"I am requesting that you immediately issue a directive to ground all [Mitsubishi MU-2B-60] aircraft until a thorough and complete investigation into its air worthiness can be determined."

That demand came in a letter from Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) to the FAA, August 4th -- the day an Mu-2 went down after being cleared to approach at Centennial Airport. It was the second fatal Mu-2B-60 mishap at Centennial in less than nine months.

Other members of Colorado's congressional delegation have also written FAA Administrator Marion Blakey, demanding the MU-2 be pulled from service. They include Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO), Rep. Bob Beauprez (D-CO), Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO).

"We won't hesitate to [order the aircraft grounded] if we have the data to support it," FAA spokeswoman Alison Duquette told the Washington Times. She said the aircraft is now being reviewed -- a process that could take 60 days.

It's the third time the Mitsubishi MU-2's safety record has been evaluated by the FAA. No changes were made during the first evaluation, in 1984, following 12 MU-2 crashes that caused 16 deaths between 1983 and 1984. In 1996, the administration required changes in training procedures to cover issues of aircraft performance in icing conditions. 

Mitsubishi begs to differ with calls to ground the MU-2.

"We've long advocated that pilots get more simulator training," he said. "We'd like to have zero accidents. That's what we strive for. When some of these things happen caused by inadequate training, it makes me sick. We need to make sure training is adequate," Ralph Sorrells, deputy general manager for the aircraft product support division of Addison, Texas-based Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America told the Times.

"I don't think the [Mitsubishi MU-2B-60] requires the same commitment that a nun would make to Jesus, but it requires a commitment," Earl Martin, owner of Houston's Mid-Coast Air Charter, told the Times. "The [Mitsubishi MU-2B-60] has had a reputation problem for a long time," Mr. Martin said. "There are some positive reasons why this airplane compares favorably to other airplanes like it that I could buy. It's built like a tank."

(Above: MU-2 accident site near BWI Airport, March 14, 2004)

FAA Preliminary Accident Report

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 454MA        Make/Model: MU2       Description: MU-2, Marquise, Solitaire (LR-1)
  Date: 08/04/2005     Time: 0810

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
  City: DENVER   State: CO   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  N454MA, A MITSUBISHI MU-2B-60 ACFT, WAS CLEARED TO LAND AND WAS ON AN IFR
  APPROACH WHEN IT CRASHED, THE ONE PERSON ON BOARD WAS FATALLY INJURED, 2.6
  NM SOUTH OF CENTENNIAL AIRPORT, DENVER, CO

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   1
                 # Crew:   1    Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:    0    Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:          Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: SPECI 040811Z 010/07 3SM RA BR SCT007 BKN012 OVC 022 15/14 A3038

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Business      Phase: Approach      Operation: Air Taxi (On Demand)

  Departed: SALT LAKE CITY, UT          Dep Date:    Dep. Time:     
  Destination: DENVER, CO               Flt Plan: IFR          Wx Briefing: U
  Last Radio Cont: 2.6 NM S APA
  Last Clearance: CLRD TO LAND

  FAA FSDO: DENVER, CO  (NM03)                    Entry date: 08/05/2005

FMI: www.faa.gov