FTW95LA290

NTSB accident investigation · WSK PZL Mielec M-18 Dromader · De Witt, AR · July 10, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 10, 1995, 17:04 local (22:04 UTC)
Place
De Witt, AR
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N210HWSK PZL Mielec M-18 Dromader
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 8, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950710017609A
Case key
19492

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 airspeed and the resulting 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 flightTakeoff - initial climb
Airspeed(vs) - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Stall/mush - inadvertentPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with objectTakeoff - initial climb
Object - vehicle
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

Following a 'normal' liftoff, the pilot 'started to turn toward field, aircraft settled' and collided with machinery at the end of the 2,600 foot airstrip. A review of aircraft performance data indicated the airplane was not over gross weight and atmospheric conditions required a takeoff ground roll distance of 750 feet. No engine or airframe discrepancies were reported.

Factual narrative

On July 10, 1995, at 1704 central daylight time, a WSK PZL Mielec M-18 Dromader, N210H, collided with machinery during takeoff near De Witt, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. No flight plan was filed for the aerial application flight conducted by Bullock Flying Service under Title 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which was originating when the accident occurred.

According to the pilot, after a "normal" liftoff, he "started to turn toward field, [and the] aircraft settled." Subsequently, the airplane's left main landing gear "struck [a] barrel and power unit" at the end of the 2,600 foot airstrip. The pilot reported the airplane then "turned sideways knocking out other gear" and came to rest "100 yards from end of runway." Both main landing gear were torn from the airplane and the fuselage and horizontal stabilizer were deformed.

The operator reported the airplane was loaded with approximately 3,000 pounds of dry fertilizer. Based on a temperature of 94 degrees and a pressure altitude of 1,000 feet, the density altitude was calculated at 3,500 feet. Using this data, a review of the performance charts in the aircraft flight manual indicated the airplane was within the prescribed limit for gross weight and required a takeoff ground roll distance of 750 feet. There were no reports of any engine or airframe discrepancies.

Aircraft

Registration
N210H
Reported as
WSK PZL Mielec M-18 Dromader (M-18 DROMA)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1Z007-13
Airframe hours
2,367
Engine
PZL-Kalisz ASZ62-IR-M18, 967 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application · Part 137
Registered owner
Billy P. Bullock
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · January 3, 1995 · 145 hours before
Airport
None

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
54
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Center
Flight hours
7,481 total · 381 in this make and model · 7,351 as pilot in command · 53 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
210° at 1 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
93 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

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