# NTSB FTW95LA192: WSK PZL Mielec M-18A Dromader, N8025Y, Gerome, AR, May 6, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 6, 1995, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Gerome, AR
- Coordinates: 33.51918, -91.429664 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5192&lon=-91.4297&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19410
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA192
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19410/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA192

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S USE OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING LANDING ROLL, FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A SOFT AREA ON THE SOD/GRAVEL STRIP AND NOSED OVER.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THERE HAD BEEN RAIN EARLIER AND THE STRIP HAD DEVELOPED A SOFT AREA NOT READILY DISCERNABLE.

## Factual narrative

On May 6, 1995, at 0830 central daylight time, a WSK PZL Mielec M-18A Dromader, N8025Y, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during landing roll at Gerome, Arkansas.  The pilot was not injured on this local area CFR Part 137 flight and no flight plan was filed.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

According to the pilot, while on landing roll at the single runway, company airstrip, he encountered a soft area towards the end of the sod/gravel runway.  He could not keep the tail wheel down and the aircraft nosed over.  He said that there had been a considerable amount of precipitation earlier and that the runway had apparently developed a soft area which was not readily discernable.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8025Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8025Y-2022-02-05), registration cancelled 2022-02-05, S/N 1Z02509, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WSK PZL MIELEC M-18A DROMADER (M-18A DROM)
- Registry model: [WSK PZL Mielec M-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-m-18a) (registry code 9810103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Wsk-Pzl-K PZL ASZ-62IR](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wsk-pzl-k-pzl-asz-62ir) (registry code 67203, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1202509
- Engines: PZL-Kalisz AS Z-62IR-M18 1000 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Delta Harvest, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed: AR
- Airport: Delta Harvest (Private), runway 27, 2,800 × 80 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 7,500 total, 500 in this make and model, 7,500 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 61 °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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19950506010859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950506010859A), May 6, 1995: Wsk M18DROMADER, Gerome, AJ, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. During landing roll hit a soft spot on strip. Nose over. Prior rain caused hidden soft area.

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.

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