- Date
- June 2, 2003, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place
- Reydell, AR
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N135RAWSK PZL Mielec M-18A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 25, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20030602012429A
- Case key
- 57151
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during initial climb.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The agricultural airplane was on initial climb from a private airstrip when it encountered a large whirlwind and turned 90 degrees to the right. The left main landing gear subsequently contacted the ground. The airplane then nosed over. Reported winds 18 miles west of the accident site were 130 degrees between 3 to 7 knots.
Factual narrative
On June 2, 2003, at 0730 central daylight time, a WSK PZL Mielec M-18A, N135RA, operated by Bear Bayou AG Service Inc., sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain during initial climb from a private airfield two miles southeast of Reydell, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was not operating on a flight plan. The commercial pilot reported minor injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot reported he had climbed to about 25 feet above ground level when he encountered a "large whirl wind" that was crossing the airstrip. The airplane rotated 90 degrees to the right and the left landing gear impacted the terrain. The airplane then rotated 130 degrees, the left wing impacted the terrain, and the airplane subsequently nosed over.
The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the accident flight.
The winds and temperatures reported by the weather observation facility at Grider Field Airport (PBF), 18 nautical miles to the west of the accident site, were:
Observation time: 0653
Wind Direction: 130 degrees
Wind Speed: 3 knots
Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius
Observation time: 0753
Wind Direction: 130 degrees
Wind Speed: 7 knots
Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius
Aircraft
- Registration
- N135RA
- Reported as
- WSK PZL Mielec M-18A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1Z0133
- Engine
- WSK PZL Kalis PZL ASZ-62IR, 1,000 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Bear Bayou AG Service Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 1, 2003 · 400 hours before
- Departed
- PVT · Reydell, AR
- Airport
- PVT · Private Strip, runway 18, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- February 3, 2003
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 6,500 total · 450 in this make and model · 400 in the last 90 days · 200 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,200 ft broken
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.82 inHg
- Observed at
- PBF, 18 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.