# NTSB CHI85FER01: PZL PZL-104 Wilga 35A, N81AS, St. Paul, MN, June 23, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: June 23, 1985, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: St. Paul, MN
- Coordinates: 44.879463, -93.039184 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8795&lon=-93.0392&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12889
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85FER01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12889/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85FER01

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - flight control surfaces/attachments - undetermined (cause)
  - raising of flaps - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper climb rate - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT CONTACTED THE RWY FOLLOWING A LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF. AT AN ALT OF 50 TO 100 FT AGL AFTER A MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE TAKEOFF, THE PLT RAPIDLY RAISED THE FLAPS FROM 44 TO 0 DEGS AND THE ACFT SUDDENLY PITCHED NOSE DOWN. THE PLT ATTEMPTED REMEDIAL ACTION, HOWEVER, THE ACFT CONTACTED THE RWY IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE. BOTH PERSONS ON BOARD STATED THEFLT CONTROLS FELT AS IF THEY WERE FROZEN. THE ACFT BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR, CLIMBED TO AN ALT OF APRX 100 FT AGL AND AGAIN PITCHED NOSE DOWN. THE ACFT IMPACTED A SECOND TIME IN A LEFT WING, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N81AS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81AS-1994-06-21), registration cancelled 1994-06-21, S/N 86280 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PZL PZL-104 WILGA 35A (PZL-104 WI)
- 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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 86280
- Airframe hours: 600
- Engines: Ivchenco AI-14RA reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Allan T. Dela
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, September 4, 1984, 20 hours before
- Destination: D97, SO. ST. PAUL, MN
- Airport: D97, So. St. Paul, runway 34, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,166 total, 230 in this make and model, 1,988 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 50 °F

## 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 19850623027189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850623027189A), Jun 23, 1985: St Paul, MN, Destroyed. Pitched nose down after flap retraction during stol takeoff. Bounced, power reduced struck ground. Control lock on.

## Other investigations on N81AS (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX77FUA15](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77FUA15), May 10, 1977: Wilga 104 (N81AS), Anaheim, CA, substantial damage

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.

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