# NTSB ATL03LA029: Mielec PZL-M-18, N45051, Immokalee, FL, January 3, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 3, 2003, 12:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: Immokalee, FL - Coordinates: 26.538055, -81.758613 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5381&lon=-81.7586&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Fort Lauderdale FSDO-17 - NTSB case key (mKey): 56303 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL03LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56303/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56303 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA029 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision by his improper fuel management which resulted in fuel starvation. Also causal was the pilot's inadequate preflight planning which resulted in his failure to perform fuel consumption calculations and refueling of the aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis According to the pilot, 20 minutes into the flight the engine flammed out while the airplane was in a left bank. As the pilot maneuvered for an emergency landing, the airplane's left wingtip struck trees, and the airplane collided with the ground. According to the pilot, in his preflight planning he did not compute the fuel consumption or reference the pilot operating handbook for the intended trip. The pilot stated he did not refuel the airplane after the initial load bearing trip. The pilot stated that this accident could have been prevented if he refueled the airplane before the initial load. According to the pilot this airplane is "notorious for poor fuel feeding when low on fuel". ## Factual narrative On January 3, 2003, at 1210 eastern standard time a Mielec PZL-M-18, N45051, registered to and operated by Airwork Enterprises of Florida, Inc., collided with trees following a loss of engine power at the Zipper Farms Airstrip in the vicinity of Immokalee, Florida. The agricultural flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from the Immokalee Airport in Immokalee, Florida, at 1145. The agricultural flight was circular in nature and lasted approximately 20 minutes.The pilot attempted to return to Immokalee Airport when a loss of engine power occurred. According to the pilot, the engine flammed out while the airplane was in a left bank. As the pilot maneuvered for an emergency landing, the left wingtip struck trees, and the airplane collided with the ground. The airplane slid backward and, rotated 180 degrees. According to the pilot, in his preflight planning he did not compute the fuel consumption or reference the pilot operating handbook for the intended flight. The pilot stated he did not refuel the airplane after the initial load bearing trip. Initial examination of the accident site revealed the airplane came to rest upright on its gear and slightly tilted to the left. No fuel was recovered from the right wing tank, 41 gallons of fuel was recovered from the left fuel tank. The wings and fuselage displayed impact damage. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assemblies and accessories rervealed no anomalies prior to impact. The pilot stated that this accident could have been prevented if he refueled the airplane before the initial load. According to the pilot this airplane is "notorious for poor fuel feeding when low on fuel". ## Aircraft - Registration: [N45051](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45051-2008-07-24), registration cancelled 2008-07-24, S/N 1Z011-04 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mielec PZL-M-18 - Registry model: [Wsk-Pzl-Mielec PZL-M-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-pzl-m-18) (registry code 9810102) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12011-04 - Airframe hours: 1885 - Engines: Lycoming T53-L 1100 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Douglas Hodges - Registered owner: Airwork Enterprises of Florida Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 23, 2002, 15 hours before - Departed: IMM, Immokalee, FL - Destination: PVT, Hendry County, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 27, 2001; seat: single; flight hours: 7,700 total, 500 in this make and model, 7,500 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: RSW ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030103001519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030103001519A), Jan 3, 2003: Wsk PZLM18, Immokalee, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot experienced an engine flame-out and while trying to make an emergency landing on county road 833, the left wing struck a tree rotating the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 3, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56303. 499 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 291 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390937&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Air Operator Profile (item 2, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438213&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Air%20Operator%20Profile-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 3, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390934&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Extract From POH PZL Manual (item 4, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438212&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Extract%20From%20POH%20PZL%20Manual-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.