# NTSB CHI07CA112: PZL Warzawa-CNPSL PZL-104 Wilga 35A, N231E, Waukesha, WI, April 21, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 21, 2007, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Waukesha, WI - Coordinates: 43.040832, -88.236946 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0408&lon=-88.2369&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65881 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65881/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA112 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to attempt flight following the initial loss of engine power and successful forced landing to a cornfield. An additional cause was the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the furrowed cornfield encountered during the second forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted, pilot in command (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - plowed/furrowed (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane nosed-down in a cornfield during a forced landing following a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. The local flight originally departed at 1215 and proceeded about 12 miles southwest of the departure airport before the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot landed in a cornfield without incident. The pilot stated that he restarted the engine and elected to take-off after finding "nothing apparently wrong" with the magnetos and fuel gauges. After takeoff, at an altitude of 150 feet, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power for a second time. The pilot reported that he performed a forced landing to another cornfield, but the cornfield rows were perpendicular to the landing path and the airplane nosed-down after touchdown. The airplane reportedly had 30 gallons of fuel on board at the original time of departure. Investigation of the airplane and accident site did not reveal evidence indicative of a fuel spill. The ground was not wet or muddy and there was no discernable fuel smell present at the accident site. Neither of the fuel tanks were breached and there was no evidence of a fuel leak. The fuel sight gauges were examined and no fuel was noticed upon righting the airplane. Several of the fuel lines had been crimped during the accident sequence, but there was no indication of a fuel leak from any of the crimped lines. The fuel tanks were drained and twenty-four ounces of fuel was collected. The pilot's shoe was reportedly recovered from the wreckage and was found filled with fuel. ## Factual narrative The airplane nosed-down in a cornfield during a forced landing following a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. The local flight originally departed at 1215 and proceeded about 12 miles southwest of the departure airport before the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot landed in a cornfield without incident. The pilot stated that he restarted the engine and elected to take-off after finding "nothing apparently wrong" with the magnetos and fuel gauges. After takeoff, at an altitude of 150 feet, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power for a second time. The pilot reported that he performed a forced landing to another cornfield, but the cornfield rows were perpendicular to the landing path and the airplane nosed-down after touchdown. The airplane reportedly had 30 gallons of fuel on board at the original time of departure. Investigation of the airplane and accident site did not reveal evidence indicative of a fuel spill. The ground was not wet or muddy and there was no discernable fuel smell present at the accident site. Neither of the fuel tanks were breached and there was no evidence of a fuel leak. The fuel sight gauges were examined and no fuel was noticed upon righting the airplane. Several of the fuel lines had been crimped during the accident sequence, but there was no indication of a fuel leak from any of the crimped lines. The fuel tanks were drained and twenty-four ounces of fuel was collected. The pilot's shoe was reportedly recovered from the wreckage and was found filled with fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N231E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N231E-2015-05-04), registration cancelled 2015-05-04, S/N 17.82.0688, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PZL Warzawa-CNPSL PZL-104 Wilga 35A - Registry model: [P Z L -Warszawa-Cnpsl PZL-104 WILGA 35A](https://openairdocs.org/model/p-z-l-warszawa-cnpsl-pzl-104-wilga-35a) (registry code 7360104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pezetel ASZ-621R-M18](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pezetel-asz-621r-m18) (registry code 49800, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12.82.0688 - Airframe hours: 2981.7 - Engines: Pezetel ASZ-621R-M18 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 1, 2006 - Departed: UES, Waukesha, WI - Destination: UES ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 21,008 total, 10 in this make and model, 19,508 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: UES, 12 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070421006659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070421006659A), Apr 21, 2007: Pzlwar PZL104W35A, Waukesha, WI, Destroyed. (-23) In flight engine failure due to fuel depletion. Emergency landing in a cornfield. During landing rollout aircraft struck a small berm and nosed over… 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.