Preliminary Report: MU-2 Takeoff Crash Kills Four

Mitsubishi MU-2B, Hillsboro, Ore., May 24, 2005–The pilot, his wife and another couple aboard Mitsubishi MU-2B N312MA were killed when the twin turboprop crashed moments after taking off. VMC prevailed. Preliminary evidence indicates the left engine was not operating at the time of the accident. Witnesses reported that after the aircraft rotated, it went into a nose-high attitude of about 30 to 40 degrees and climbed to about 1,000 feet before making a steep banking left turn. The nose dropped and the aircraft began to spin before it hit the ground.