Mc Ghee Tyson Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Knoxville, Tennessee 37919
Friday, March 12, 1999 18:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

About 30 minutes into the flight, the right engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. The pilot secured the right engine and feathered the right propeller. Shortly after attempting to restart the right engine, the pilot said he also experienced a complete loss of electrical power, and was unable to use his radios. The pilot said he placed the landing gear lever in the down position, and established an approach to runway 5R for an emergency landing. The airplane touched down and skidded off the left side of the runway. Examination of the airplane and the engine assemblies failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure. During the extensive airplane examination the electrical system was also functionally checked; the examination failed to disclose any mechanical problems. When the master switch was placed in the on position 75% of the battery power was restored to the airplane. The electrical power source was sufficient to activate the landing gear doors. During the examination of the fuel system, fuel was traced from the fuel tank to the fuel control unit. There was no mechanical problems discovered with the right fuel shut-off valve; the right fuel shut-off valve functioned normally.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the landing gear to extend for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/12/1999
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City KNOXVILLE
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37919
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MC GHEE TYSON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TYS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 981
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1840 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID TYS
Elevation of weather observation facility 981
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 996
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 223
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 12 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:26AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N176BJ
NTSB Number ATL99LA054
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Mitsubishi
Aircraft Model MU-2B-20
Aircraft Series Identifier MU-2B-20
Aircraft Serial Number 144
Certified Max Gross Weight 9920
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 7
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 15 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 4589
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HARTFORD FINANCIAL CORP
Aircraft Owner Street Address 240 AVIATION DR N. SUITE 200
Aircraft Owner City NAPLES
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34104
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GREGORY K. BENSON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2125 LYONS BEND RD
Operator City KNOXVILLE
Operator State TN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 37919
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code TYS
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 5R
Runway Length 9008
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --