FTW00LA157

NTSB accident investigation · Pzl-Mielec M-18A · Marmaduke, AR · May 30, 2000

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 30, 2000, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
Place
Marmaduke, AR
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N2065SPzl-Mielec M-18A
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 29, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20000530005589A
Case key
49302

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush.

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.

Loss of control - in flightManeuvering - aerial application
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Stall/mush - inadvertentPilot in command
In flight collision with objectDescent - uncontrolled
Object - tree(s)

Analysis

While maneuvering during an aerial application flight, the pilot reported that the airplane 'had a violent vibration.' The pilot leveled the wings, pitched the nose down, and added power. He then flew the airplane straight and level for 1.5 miles. As the pilot banked the airplane right to turn back into the wind, the airplane began descending. The pilot added more power, but the airplane continued to descend. Although the pilot executed an emergency hopper dump and added full power, the airplane descended into a cotton field. The right landing gear touched the ground, and the airplane began skidding across the field. After passing under power lines and across a highway, the airplane began to climb. Subsequently, the airplane impacted trees and came to rest in a near vertical attitude against a tree. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies with the aircraft.

Factual narrative

On May 30, 2000, at 1330 central daylight time, a Pzl-Mielec M-18A agricultural airplane, N2065S, sustained substantial damage during an in flight collision with terrain while maneuvering near Marmaduke, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by Sky King Aviation, Inc., of Rector, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. No flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed from the Rector Airport approximately 1305.

In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that the airplane "had a violent vibration" while in a turn. The pilot leveled the wings, pitched the nose down, and added power. He then flew the airplane straight and level for 1.5 miles. As the pilot banked the airplane right to turn back into the wind, the airplane began descending. The pilot added more power, but the airplane continued to descend. Although the pilot executed an emergency hopper dump and added full power, the airplane descended into a cotton field. The right main landing gear touched the ground, and the airplane began skidding across the field. After passing under power lines and across a highway, the airplane began to climb. Subsequently, the airplane impacted trees and came to rest in a near vertical attitude against a tree. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies with the aircraft.

Aircraft

Registration
N2065S
Reported as
Pzl-Mielec M-18A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
12024-16
Airframe hours
1,263
Engine
Pzl-Kalisz PZL ASZ-62IR, 1,000 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Aerial application · Part 137
Operator
Sky King Aviation, Inc., doing business as Aerial Application
Registered owner
J.C. Helms
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · May 19, 1999 · 146 hours before
Departed
7M8 · Rector, AR

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
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Center
Flight hours
4,863 total · 239 in this make and model · 4,750 as pilot in command · 86 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
160° at 5 knots
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 68 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N2065S · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.