# NTSB DFW06CA064: Wsk-Pzl Warzawaokecie PZL-104 Wilga 80, N192D, Comstock, TX, February 2, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 2, 2006, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Comstock, TX - Coordinates: 29.789167, -101.172225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7892&lon=-101.1722&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: SAN ANTONIO - NTSB case key (mKey): 63188 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63188/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA064 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation leading to him becoming lost. Contributing factors were the unfavorable winds and the lack of suitable terrain for a precautionary landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, cruise - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - became lost/disoriented - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - low level - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 600-hour private pilot became lost during a 125-nautical mile dead reckoning cross-country flight. Running low on fuel, the pilot elected to land at a ranch. Upon landing, the pilot realized that he was in Mexico, approximately 206 miles south of his intended destination. The pilot quickly departed the ranch and flew in a northerly direction until he spotted a Texas flag. Estimating that he had about 3 gallons of fuel remaining, the pilot elected to land on a gravel road before his remaining fuel was exhausted. While on final approach to the gravel road, the pilot observed a tall fence running parallel to the road and elected to land off the road on rocky and uneven terrain. While landing, the airplane's horizontal stabilizer sustained structural damage following impact with sagebrush and cactus plants. The pilot reported that he did not have a navigational chart on board the airplane, and very strong winds aloft, with speeds up to 65 mph, prevailed throughout the area, forcing his airplane off-course. ## Factual narrative The 600-hour private pilot became lost during a 125-nautical mile dead reckoning cross-country flight. Running low on fuel, the pilot elected to land at a ranch. Upon landing, the pilot realized that he was in Mexico, approximately 206 miles south of his intended destination. The pilot quickly departed the ranch and flew in a northerly direction until he spotted a Texas flag. Estimating that he had about 3 gallons of fuel remaining, the pilot elected to land on a gravel road before his remaining fuel was exhausted. While on final approach to the gravel road, the pilot observed a tall fence running parallel to the road and elected to land off the road on rocky and uneven terrain. While landing, the airplane's horizontal stabilizer sustained structural damage following impact with sagebrush and cactus plants. The pilot reported that he did not have a navigational chart on board the airplane, and very strong winds aloft, with speeds up to 65 mph, prevailed throughout the area, forcing his airplane off-course. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N192D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N192D), registered now, S/N CF14800559, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WSK-PZL WARZAWAOKECIE PZL-104 WILGA 80 - Registry model: [Wsk-Pzl Warzawa-Okecie PZL-104 WILGA 80](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-warzawa-okecie-pzl-104-wilga-80) (registry code 9810280) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Wsk-Pzl-K AI-14R series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wsk-pzl-k-ai-14r-series) (registry code 67205, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CF14800559 - Airframe hours: 1550 - Engines: PZL WSK AL-14RA 251 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Tailwind Productions - Registered owner: Tailwind Productions - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2005 - Departed: Private Ranch - Destination: KT88, COLORADO CITY, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 600 total, 15 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 25 knots, gusting 35 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 20060202002229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060202002229A), Feb 2, 2006: Wsk PZL104, Comstock, TX, Minor damage. (-23) Pilot ran out of gas and hit brush and rocks while executing emergency landing. 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.