Accident Description
On April 3, 2010, at approximately 1330 central daylight time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-26A (registration N29WD) lost directional control and veered off the runway while landing at Princeton-Caldwell County Airport in Princeton, Kentucky. The private pilot was conducting a business flight under Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, having departed from Garfield County Regional Airport in Rifle, Colorado. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed, although visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the pilot reported minor injuries.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that during the approach, the base-to-final turn for runway 23 was uneventful, with a windsock indicating little to no wind. Approach speed was maintained at 95 to 100 knots. After crossing the runway threshold, the rear tires touched down on the centerline approximately 800 feet down the runway. The pilot characterized the landing and runway position as "textbook perfect" and noted no crosswind during the final approach or touchdown.
Approximately 100 to 200 feet after touchdown, during the landing roll at about 70 knots, the airplane made a sharp 30-degree veer to the right. The right wing dropped suddenly, and the aircraft exited the right side of the runway. Believing he could not stop before a nearby ditch, the pilot applied full power in an attempt to fly over it, but the airplane collided with a fence. The pilot later speculated that a loss of power or a change in propeller pitch on the right engine may have caused the sudden veer.
Inspection Findings
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the aircraft and found the wings and fuselage buckled. Runway tire marks were observed approximately 400 feet from the initial touchdown point, continuing about 1,500 feet off the right side of the runway through grass until the fence impact. The left main tire was inflated, while the right main tire was impact-damaged and separated from its rim bead. Both nose wheels were inflated, and no signs of tire failure were noted. The nose wheel steering linkages were intact with no anomalies. All main landing gear linkages were intact, albeit with some impact damage. Examination of the engine power and propeller controls revealed no anomalies. Flight control continuity was established throughout the system, and the flaps were found in the 20-degree position.