N999WB

History of Flight

On December 30, 1997, at 1703 central standard time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-30, N999WB, operated by PVS International, Inc., was destroyed when it impacted the ground two miles north of the DuPage Airport, West Chicago, Illinois. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed DuPage Airport on a local training flight and was in the local VFR flight pattern for runway lL. The commercial pilot and the commercial copilot received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was in contact with the local air traffic control tower at DuPage Airport.

A fuel lineman at the airport reported that he had put fuel in the airplane at approximately 1500 on December 30, 1997. He reported that the pilots had just pulled the airplane out of the hangar and were about to go flying. The fuel log indicated that 184 gallons of Jet A had been put on the airplane.

At 2153 (All times UTC), N999WB (9WB) departed Dupage Airport to the west.

At 2227, 9WB radioed O'Hare Approach and requested the GPS 1L approach at DuPage Airport.

At 2238, 9WB was cleared for the approach and was told to switch to DuPage Tower frequency.

At 2242:02, DuPage Tower cleared 9WB to fly the approach to 1L and cleared 9WB to land.

9WB landed on runway 1L and taxied back to 1L for another takeoff.

At 2248:11, 9WB stated, "And tower, uh, Whiskey Bravo. We'll be, uh, simulated single engine on the takeoff. Circle to land same runway."

At 2248:18, the tower reported, "Mitsubishi Nine Whiskey Bravo, roger. Your option left or right traffic."

At 2249:56, the tower cleared 9WB for takeoff from runway 1L.

At 2250:01, 9WB reported, "Cleared to go, Niner Whiskey Bravo, and we'll be in left traffic."

At 2251:48, 9WB reported, "And tower, we're going to continue upwind here a little bit."

At 2251:52, the tower reported, "Mitsubishi Nine Whiskey Bravo, roger. Runway one left. You're cleared to land."

At 2251:56, 9WB responded, "Cleared to land one left, Niner Whiskey Bravo."

At 2256:25, 9WB reported, "And tower, Whiskey Bravo's on final, full stop."

At 2256:28, tower reported, "Whiskey Bravo is cleared to land runway one left."

At 2256:31, 9WB responded, "Cleared to land one left, Whiskey Bravo."

At 2257:58, the tower stated, "Nine Whiskey Bravo, say your destination."

At 2258:00, 9WB responded, "Nine Whiskey Bravo, would like to take it around, uh, two more times."

At 2258:04, the tower responded, "Nine Whiskey Bravo, no problem, sir. Taxi back."

At 2300:36, 9WB stated, "And tower, Niner Whiskey Bravo. We're ready to go one left."

At 2300:41, the tower stated, "Nine Whiskey Bravo, into position and hold one left. Traffic landing two eight."

At 2300:45, 9WB responded, "Niner Whiskey Bravo, in sight."

At 2301:24, the tower stated, "Nine Whiskey Bravo, left or right turn out approved or left or right traffic, your choice. Runway one left, cleared for takeoff."

At 2301:29, 9WB responded, "Okay, Niner Whiskey Bravo. We'll make it right traffic this time. Cleared to go one left, Niner Whiskey Bravo."

There were no further radio transmissions from 9WB.

Witnesses reported seeing an airplane flying northbound from DuPage Airport. They reported that the airplane appeared to be flying slow and at an altitude between 500 to 1000 feet above ground level (agl). They reported seeing the right wing go up as if turning left to the northwest, but then the airplane "barrel rolled" to the left and continued rolling straight down. None of the witnesses reported seeing the airplane impact the ground due to the trees in the area.

A witness who lived north of the impact site reported that, "As I lost sight of the plane into the trees, I noticed the left wing of the plane tilted upward, after which I heard a crash which sounded much like wood breaking."

One witness reported he heard the airplane fly near his house which was located about 1,000 feet to the east of the accident site. He reported that the airplane sounded very low and very loud. He reported that the airplane noise did not sound normal. He reported that the loud noise made by the airplane continued until the airplane impacted the ground.

The airplane impacted the ground in a small pasture in a residential area. A witness who owned the property reported hearing the airplane as it flew over his house and when it impacted the ground. He reported that he ran out to the pasture to render assistance. He reported there was a heavy smell of fuel in the air. He reported there was a small fire near the right wing. He reported the flame was a single flame and about 10 inches in height. He reported the flame was extinguished with snow.

The witness reported that emergency response vehicles arrived at the scene about two minutes after the accident occurred. Although there was no fire, the fire department put water on the aircraft as a precaution.

Personnel Information

The pilot was a commercially rated pilot with single engine and multi-engine land ratings and a commercial helicopter rating. He held an instrument rating in airplanes. He was a Certified Flight Instructor in single and multiengine airplanes and was also an instrument instructor in airplanes. He was certified as an advanced ground instructor and as an instrument ground instructor.

The pilot's logbooks were not obtained. He had an estimated 1,175 total flight hours. Witnesses reported that he had about 350 flight hours in the MU-2. However, the pilot indicated on a pilot history form he filled out on October 10, 1997, when he went to flight training at Flight Safety, Houston, Texas, that he had a total of 1,175 hours, 866 hours as Pilot in Command, 80 hours in the last six months, and a total of 250 hours in MU-2's.

A witness reported that the pilot had received his private pilot and commercial pilot ratings at Southern Illinois University. The witness reported that the pilot obtained the single engine instructor rating and instrument instructor rating at American Flyers located at DuPage Airport, West Chicago, Illinois.

The pilot obtained his multi-engine instructor (MEI) rating in November, 1997. The pilot's MEI instructor pilot during his MEI training was the copilot of the accident flight. The copilot's logbook indicated that the pilot and copilot had flown together on seven instructional flights between July 9, 1997, and November 13, 1997. The airplane used for the MEI training was a twin engine Gruman Cougar. The pilots had flown together for 10.1 hours in preparation for the pilot's MEI checkride.

The operator of the airplane reported the pilot had started flying in the right seat of the airplane in September 1995. The pilot flew as copilot in order to build flight time and was not paid while flying as copilot. The operator reported that the pilot had flown about 150 hours as copilot. In September 1996, the pilot started to fly as Captain on the MU-2. The operator reported that the pilot had flown 180 to 200 hours as Captain.

The operator purchased a "Full Service" training contract for the pilot through Flight Safety International, Houston, Texas. The full service contract allowed the pilot to obtain his initial ground school and flight simulator training, and subsequent recurrent ground school and simulator training at Flight Safety. The pilot received his initial training in October 1996. The pilot completed his first recurrent course in April 1997. The pilot completed his second recurrent course in June 1997. The pilot completed his third recurrent course on October 10, 1997. While attending Flight Safety, all of the pilot's flight training was conducted in Flight Safety's MU-2 flight simulator. The pilot did not fly with the Flight Safety instructors in an actual airplane. The pilot's most current Biennial Flight Review and Instrument Competency Check was accomplished in Flight Safety's MU-2 flight simulator on October 10, 1997.

The pilot also attended the MU-2 maintenance course offered by Flight Safety. The pilot attended the maintenance course on MU-2 systems from June 2 to June 12, 1997, for a total of 54 instructional hours.

The copilot was a commercial pilot with single and multi-engine land and instrument ratings. He was a Certified Flight Instructor in single and multiengine airplanes and was also an instrument instructor in airplanes. He was certified as an advanced ground instructor and as an instrument ground instructor. He was a designated FAA ASC (Air Safety Counselor).

The copilot had a total of approximately 4,094 flight hours. 772 hours were in multi-engine airplanes. He had flown approximately 10 hours in multi-engine turbine airplanes. The copilot's logbook indicated that he had not flown an MU-2 before the accident flight.

Aircraft Information

The airplane was a twin engine Mitsubishi MU-2B-30, serial number 530. The airplane seated eight and had a gross weight of 10,800 pounds. The engines were 665 shaft horsepower Allied Signal TPE 331-1-151A engines. The last 100 hour maintenance inspection was conducted on June 20, 1997. The airplane had flown approximately 86 hours since the last inspection and had a total time of 6,275 hours.

The engine logbooks indicated that both engines were overhauled on January 26, 1979. The time since overhaul was about 3,141 hours. A hot section inspection was conducted on February 9, 1988. The time since the hot section inspection was about 1,892 hours.

The propeller logbooks indicated the Hartzell propellers, model HCB3TN-5E, were overhauled on June 20, 1994. The time since overhaul was about 404 hours.

A review of the airplane's logbooks indicated that all Airworthiness Directives (AD's) had been complied with.

Meteorological Conditions

At 1655, weather conditions reported at DuPage Airport were VFR. The sky was overcast at 7,500 feet with 10 mile visibility. The temperature was 22 degrees Fahrenheit and the D...