# NTSB DEN99LA140: Pzl-Mielec M-18A, N9103Y, Hasty, CO, August 9, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 9, 1999, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Hasty, CO
- Coordinates: 37.929634, -102.950805 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9296&lon=-102.9508&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 2, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47009
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA140
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47009/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA140

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to refuel his airplane, and the subsequent airborne fuel exhaustion.  Factors were the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing, and the high vegetation in the field.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot, he had just finished an application job, and was flying back to his private airstrip.  He said his fuel gauge was reading about 1/4 full.  Two minutes later, his engine lost power.  He hand pumped his fuel boost pump but there was no fuel in it.  He performed a forced landing to a corn field, and the airplane nosed over.

## Factual narrative

On August 9, 1999, approximately 1100 mountain daylight time, a Pzl-Mielec M-18A (Dromader), N9103Y, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Hasty, Colorado.  The commercial pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured.  The airplane was being operated by Denton Aerial Spraying, Las Animas, Colorado, under Title 14 CFR Part 137.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight which originated from a private agricultural strip approximately 1 hour before the accident.  No flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, he had just finished an application job, and was flying back to his private airstrip.  He said his fuel gauge was reading about 1/4 full.  Two minutes later, his engine lost power.  He hand pumped his fuel boost pump but there was no fuel in it.  He performed a forced landing to a corn field, and the airplane nosed over.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9103Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9103Y-2004-03-29), registration cancelled 2004-03-29, S/N 1Z016-27 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Pzl-Mielec M-18A
- Registry model: [WSK PZL Mielec M-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-m-18a) (registry code 9810103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1Z016-27
- Airframe hours: 4939
- Engines: Pzl-Kalisz ASZ-62IR-M18 967 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Donald J. Koenig
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 17, 1999, 90 hours before
- Departed: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 3,014 total, 187 in this make and model, 2,917 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAA, 30 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 19990809047739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990809047739A), Aug 9, 1999: Wsk M18A, Hasty, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 9, 1999, approximately 1100 mountain daylight time, a Wsk pzl mielec dromder M-18A, N9103Y, was substantially damaged during an attempted…

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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