# NTSB FTW03LA047: WSK PZL Mielec M18A, N6288M, Votaw, TX, November 22, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 22, 2002, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Votaw, TX - Coordinates: 30.303611, -94.323333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3036&lon=-94.3233&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Houston, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 56094 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56094/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA047 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undertermined reasons. Contributing factors included the unsuitable terrain for the forced landing and the lack of airspeed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis After making one pass across the field and beginning a turn back to the field, the engine went to idle power. The pilot attempted to land on a highway, but due to loss of airspeed he chose to land straight ahead in a field of small pine trees. The airplane came to rest in an upright position, and no postimpact fire ensued. An examination of the engine failed to reveal any anomalies which would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On November 22, 2002, approximately 0900 central standard time, a WSK PZL Mielec M18A single-engine agricultural airplane, was substantially damaged following a forced landing after experiencing a partial loss of engine power near Votaw, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by Wakefield Aircraft LLC, of Cooperstown, North Dakota. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The airplane departed a private grass airstrip at Wildwood Resort, Texas, at 0845. According to the Pilot/Operator Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that after making one pass across the field he pulled up to make a "turn-around" when the engine went to idle power. The pilot stated that he dumped the remaining fertilizer and attempted to turn toward a highway to land, but "I did not have enough airspeed. I opted to land straight ahead in a field of small pine trees." The airplane impacted trees and came to rest in an upright position. There was no postimpact fire, and the pilot was not injured. The pilot also reported that approximately 30 minutes prior to departure he conducted a preflight check of the airplane. The pilot reported that subtantial damage to both wing spars was a result of impact damage with the pine trees. Both horizontal stabilizers were damaged, all propeller blades exhibited bending and twisting deformation, and the propeller spinner was damaged. On January 10, 2003, Turbines Inc., of Terre Haute, Indiana, disassembled and inspected the airplane's engine, PT6A-65B PCE 32351. The examination failed to reveal any anomalies which would have precluded normal operation of the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6288M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6288M), registered now, S/N 1Z026-13, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WSK PZL Mielec M18A - Registry model: [WSK PZL Mielec M-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-m-18a) (registry code 9810103) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pezetel ASZ-621R-M18](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pezetel-asz-621r-m18) (registry code 49800, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1Z026-13 - Airframe hours: 1465 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65B 967 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Wakefield Aircraft LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 29, 2002, 70 hours before - Departed: Wildwood Resort, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 2, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 22,000 total, 2,100 in this make and model, 21,850 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 8 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °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 20021122032799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021122032799A), Nov 22, 2002: Wsk M18A, Bigthicket, TX, Substantial damage. (-19) On November 22, 2002, approximately 0900 central standard time, a Wsk pzl mielec M18A single-engine agricultural airplane, was substantially following a… 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.