# NTSB FTW93LA146: Pzl-Mielec PZL-M-18, N28587, De Witt, AR, May 1, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 1, 1993, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: De Witt, AR - Coordinates: 34.280628, -91.330551 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2806&lon=-91.3306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 25, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18740 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18740/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA146 ## Probable cause COMPENSATION FOR WIND IMPROPER BY PILOT. FACTORS WERE TAILWIND AND DOWNDRAFT ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - vehicle - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis DURING THE TAKEOFF TO THE NORTH, THE AIRPLANE WAS APPROXIMATELY TWENTY FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND APPROXIMATELY 4OO YARDS BEYOND A ROAD BEING UTILIZED AS AN AERIAL STRIP WHEN THE PILOT STARTED A TURN TO THE NORTHEAST. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT 'DURING THE TURN THE POWER SETTING WAS OK BUT THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO SETTLE AS IF IN A DOWNDRAFT.' PILOT REPORTED THE WINDS FROM THE SOUTH WITH GUSTS TO 15 KNOTS. THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE IN THE RICE FIELD. WITH THE CLIMB ATTITUDE OF THE AIRPLANE, THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE A BULLDOZER PARKED IN THE FIELD. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE BULLDOZER AND SUBSEQUENTLY, DURING THE UNCONTROLLED DESCENT, CAME TO REST IN AN INVERTED POSITION ON THE BANK OF THE RICE LEVEE. A POST CRASH FIRE DESTROYED THE AIRPLANE ## Factual narrative On May 1, 1993, at approximately 0830 central daylight time, during takeoff from a road near De Witt, Arkansas, a WSK PZL MIELEC, PZL M 18, N28587, was destroyed when the airplane struck a bulldozer and subsequently impacted the terrain and burned. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The FAR CFR Part 137 flight was being operated by Bullock Flying Service of De Witt, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight. During a telephone interview conducted by the investigator in charge with the operator and the pilot, the facts in this paragraph were stated. The airplane had departed the De Witt Municipal Airport, De Witt, Arkansas, at approximately 0800 for seeding of a rice field. The airplane subsequently was departing from a road near the rice field. During the takeoff to the north, the airplane was approximately twenty feet above the ground and approximately 400 yards beyond the road when the pilot started a turn to the northeast. The pilot stated that "during the turn the power setting was ok but the airplane started to settle as if in a downdraft." Winds reported by the pilot were from the south with gusts to 15 knots. The pilot made a decision to land the airplane in the rice field. With the climb attitude of the airplane, the bulldozer was not seen by the pilot. As the airplane settled toward the ground, the wing struck the bulldozer and the wing separated from the airplane. During the subsequent uncontrolled descent, the main gears struck the ground and the airplane nosed over to the inverted position. A post crash fire was observed by the pilot as he exited the airplane. The airplane was destroyed by the fire. The airplane was released to the operator following the investigation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N28587](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28587-2018-01-17), registration cancelled 2018-01-17, S/N 1Z008-17, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PZL-MIELEC PZL-M-18 - Registry model: [Wsk-Pzl-Mielec PZL-M-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-pzl-m-18) (registry code 9810102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1200817 - Airframe hours: 5000 - Engines: PEZETEL ASZ-621R-M-18 967 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Bullock Flying Service - Registered owner: Bullock Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 15, 1993, 50 hours before - Departed: AR - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 12,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19930501011369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930501011369A), May 1, 1993: Wsk PZLM18, Dewitt, AR, Destroyed. Began to settle on climbout from a road takeoff. Elected to abort. Wing severed by bulldozer unseen in field. 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.