Preliminary Report: MU-2 found in Napa River

MITSUBISHI MU-2B-40, NAPA, CALIF., MARCH 11, 2004–The owner-pilot of the 1979 Mitsubishi twin turboprop, N966MA, and his passenger were killed when the airplane crashed into the Napa River under unknown circumstances while on approach to the Napa County Airport (APC). The airplane, registered to the South Coast Tumor Institute of San Diego, was destroyed. VMC prevailed for the Part 91 flight, which had departed Imperial County Airport (IPL), Calif. No flight plan had been filed. After the private-rated pilot failed to let family members know he had returned, they called the FAA, which issued an alert notice on March 15. The aircraft was located on March 18 in the Napa River, three miles south of APC.