Philadelphia Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19117
Friday, February 12, 1988 14:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE MITSUBISHI MU-2B-35 LANDED AND DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE LEFT WING MIDWAY BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND TIP TANK AND OUTBOARD TO THE TIP TANK. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE WING SHOWED A BROKEN LOWER FRONT WING SPAR AND A BENT REAR LOWER WING SPAR. THE PILOT SAID HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE WHILE CRUISING AT 250 KTS. HE SAID HE SLOWED TO 170 KTS AND THEN RESUMED SPEED TO 250 KTS. AFTER MITSUBISHI EXAMINED THE WING, THEY SAID THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY EITHER A HARD LANDING OR LANDING WITH EXCESS FUEL IN THE TIP TANK. THEY ALSO SAID IT WAS LIKELY THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FLOWN SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE WING DAMAGE PRESENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/12/1988
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City PHILADELPHIA
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 19117
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PHILADELPHIA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PHL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 21
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1470
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 17 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1115
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37595
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N339MA
NTSB Number NYC88LA085
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MITSUBISHI
Aircraft Model MU-2B-35
Aircraft Series Identifier MU-2B-35
Aircraft Serial Number 607
Certified Max Gross Weight 10520
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 8
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Dec 21 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 57
Airframe Hours 3578
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EPPS AIR SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address DEKALB-PEACHTREE AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner City ATLANTA
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30341
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name EPPS AIR
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address PEACHTREE-DEKALB AIRPORT
Operator City ATLANTA
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30341
Operator Code ESMA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code UCA
Departure City UTICA
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27R
Runway Length 9500
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --