# NTSB FTW95LA162: WSK PZL Mielec M-18A Dromadier, N5277Z, Pine Bluff, AR, April 9, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 9, 1995, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Pine Bluff, AR - Coordinates: 34.210845, -92.010276 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2108&lon=-92.0103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19387 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA162 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19387/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA162 ## Probable cause THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM REQUIRED AIRSPEED FOR FLIGHT, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Loss of control - in flight, emergency descent/landing - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis WHILE MANEUVERING TO DUMP WATER ON A FIRE, POWER WAS REDUCED TO DESCEND TO 100 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL). WHEN THROTTLE WAS INCREASED TO LEVEL OFF, THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE PILOT SWITCHED HANDS ON THE CONTROL STICK TO PUMP THE AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. HE THEN SWITCHED HIS HANDS BACK IN AN ATTEMPT TO ACTIVATE THE DUMP LEVER AND AIRCRAFT CONTROL WAS LOST. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY A POST IMPACT FIRE. THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE OPERATOR REPORTED FINDING WOOD 'CUT BY THE PROPELLER' AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. ## Factual narrative On April 9, 1995, at 1415 central daylight time, a WSK PZL MIELEC M-18A Dromadier, N5277Z was destroyed while maneuvering near Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the fire fighting flight. During a telephone interview with the investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported the information in this paragraph. While over-flying the fire on a heading of 330 degrees, approximately 1000 feet mean sea level (MSL), he turned right to a heading of 180 degrees, and reduced power to descend. At approximately 100 feet above ground level (AGL), throttle was increased to level off and the engine did not respond. He switched hands on the control stick to pump the auxiliary fuel pump, which is located on the right side of the cockpit; however, the engine did not respond. He then switched his hands back in an attempt to activate the dump lever, which is located on the left side of the cockpit, to dump his load of water. Subsequently, he "stalled" the airplane and it began to "spin." A witness in a spotter airplane reported observing the airplane start a slow turn to the southwest. He "looked at the fire and when he looked back at the tanker, it was in a slow roll to the left, headed to the north. The plane made two complete rolls before striking the ground at about a 45 degree to 60 degree angle." During a telephone interview with the investigator-in-charge, the operator reported that while at the accident site, he observed "wood that was cut by the propeller." The airplane was destroyed by a post impact fire. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5277Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5277Z-1995-06-02), registration cancelled 1995-06-02, S/N 1Z01812 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WSK PZL MIELEC M-18A DROMADIER (M-18A DROM) - Registry model: [WSK PZL Mielec M-18 DROMADER](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-m-18-dromader) (registry code 9810104) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1Z018-12 - Airframe hours: 965 - Engines: PZL-KALISZ AS621R-M18 967 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Riddell Flying Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 10, 1994, 28 hours before - Departed: M76, MONTICELLO, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 2,264 total, 106 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °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 19950409048979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950409048979A), Apr 9, 1995: Pinebluff, AR, Destroyed. (-16) Witnesses stated that they observed the aircraft enter a stall and spin into the terrain in a nose down attitude. The aircraft was destroyed by the… 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.