# NTSB FTW96LA307: Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A, N163RA, Beedeville, AR, July 16, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 16, 1996, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Beedeville, AR
- Coordinates: 35.429817, -91.109497 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4298&lon=-91.1095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 24, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19912
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA307
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19912/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA307

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - terrain condition - crop
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the morning he had flown '10 to 15 loads' off the 2,542-foot dirt airstrip with 'no problems.'  He further reported that 'upon becoming airborne and flying approximately 300 feet, the front wheels touched the rice that was planted across the gravel road (due north) from the airstrip.'  Contact with the rice 'caused the loss of airspeed.'  The airplane struck a rice field levee, nosed over, and came to rest inverted.

## Factual narrative

On July 16, 1996, at 1200 central daylight time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A, N163RA, registered to and operated by Addington Ag Air under Title 14 CFR Part 137, was substantially damaged during takeoff near Beedeville, Arkansas.  The commercial pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight and a flight plan was not filed.

The pilot reported that, during the morning, he had flown "10 to 15 loads" off the 2,542 foot dirt airstrip with "no problems."  He further reported that "upon becoming airborne and flying approximately 300 feet, the front wheels touched the rice that was planted across the gravel road (due north) from the airstrip."  Contact with the rice "caused the loss of airspeed."  The airplane struck a rice field levee, nosed over, and came to rest inverted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N163RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N163RA-1997-06-25), registration cancelled 1997-06-25, S/N 1Z01516 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A
- Registry model: [WSK PZL Mielec M-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-m-18a) (registry code 9810103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1Z015-16
- Airframe hours: 2800
- Engines: Pzl-Kalisz ASZ-621R 980 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Bobby & Mary Addington
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, December 10, 1995
- Airport: NONE, Private, runway 36, 2,542 ×  ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 7,899 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 7,815 as pilot in command, 350 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 39 °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 19960716017889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960716017889A), Jul 16, 1996: Wsk PZLM18, Beedeville, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) Surveillance of accident site found aircraft inverted about 300 yards from runway in rice field. Pilot said it wouldn't fly but was making power. This…

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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