While this information is a little late seeing your friend has already purchased an MU-2, hopefully this will enforce my recommend of getting the best training available.
I have researched the NTSB data base for 2005 and 2006 for fatal accidents involving turbo-prop aircraft the same class as the MU-2.
So far this year, 2006, there have been seven (7) fatal accidents in the United States involving cabin-class turbo-prop aircraft.
One King Air 200, loss of control on landing.
One Swearinger SA 226, loss of control while IMC.
Two (2) Turbo Commanders.
A Turbo Commander disappeared from radar after departing Anchorage, Alaska. The aircraft disappeared from radar thirteen (13) miles west of Anchorage. No wreckage or bodies have been found. The aircraft is assumed crashed and all persons on board dead.
A Turbo Commander suffered and in-flight breakup while at cruise altitude of FL 28.0. This aircraft was being operated under an “Experimental Category” certificate. The aircraft was fitted with experimental five (5) bladed propellers and had slipper fuel tanks mounted to the underside of the wings. There were level three (3) thunderstorms in the area.
Three (3) MU-2s.
A MU-2 crashed after losing an engine after takeoff. Aircraft rolled inverted and crashed on the airport.
A MU-2 suffered an in-flight breakup on decent while in IMC. There was no convective weather activity in the area.
A MU-2 suffered an in-flight breakup while at cruise altitude. There were level five (5) and six (6) thunderstorms in the area.
In 2005 there were three (3) fatal accidents in the United States and Canada involving cabin-class turbo-prop aircraft. All three (3) were MU-2s.
A MU-2 suffered CFIT (Controlled Flight Into Terrain) short of the runway while on an ILS approach. Reported weather was light winds, visibility 2.5 miles with rain and mist, tower visibility was 4 miles, ceiling was variable between 600 to 1,200 feet with broken clouds.
A MU-2 suffered CFIT on a clear VMC night. The pilot was sixty two (62) miles from his departure airport when he requested to return to the departure airport. When asked by ATC he reported that he had no aircraft problems, however, he needed to return to “have something checked out”. After the aircraft was cleared for the visual approach the aircraft over flew the runway at a low altitude and low airspeed. After flying past the airport the aircraft impacted a 62,000 pound earthmover sitting in a flat level field.
A MU-2 crashed shortly after takeoff due to loss of control. Aircraft rolled inverted and impacted the ground just off the airport property.
In the last two years there have been ten (10) fatal accidents involving cabin-class turbo-prop aircraft in the United States and Canada, six (6) were MU-2s.
Rather sobering. Train, train and train some more and do not ever get behind the airplane.