# NTSB GAA18CA502: WSK PZL Mielec M-18A, N851EJ, Dansville, NY, August 4, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 4, 2018, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Dansville, NY - Coordinates: 42.27222, -77.684722 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2722&lon=-77.6847&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98135 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA502 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98135/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98135 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA502 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from crops during an agricultural application flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [WSK PZL Mielec M-18A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=9810103), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [WSK PZL Mielec M-18A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=9810103), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [WSK PZL Mielec M-18A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=9810103), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [WSK PZL Mielec M-18A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=9810103), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [WSK PZL Mielec M-18A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=9810103), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [WSK PZL Mielec M-18A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=9810103), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was performing an agricultural application flight to a corn field, which had a tree line running west to east on the north side of the field and another tree line running north to south on the east end of the field. He was making application passes from east to west and started at the south side of the field progressing northward toward the tree line with each pass. He added that he noticed that the wind speed increased to about 10 to 12 mph. During the second to last spray pass, while heading west, he came over the east end tree line and descended close to the corn. About 300 ft into the field, the airplane began to descend rapidly, and he pitched the airplane's nose up. He added that the descent continued and that the airplane began to lose airspeed. The landing gear struck the corn, and the airplane impacted terrain and came to rest inverted. The pilot added that he believed a combination of descending air that rolled over the north line of trees, wind shear, the low-altitude flying, and reduced margin of error for the proper application of pesticide caused the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A weather station, located about 3 miles northeast of the accident site reported, about the time of the accident, temperature 85.3°F, dew point 68.3°F, and wind from 293° at 6 mph, gusting to 8 mph. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was performing an aerial application flight to a corn field which had a tree line running west to east on the north side of the field and another tree line running north to south on the east end of the field. He was making application passes from east to west and started at the south side of the field progressing northward toward the tree line with each pass. He added that he noticed that the wind speeds increased, to about 10 to 12 mph. During the second to last spray pass, while heading west, he came over the east end tree line and descended to 5 to 10 ft above the crop. About 300 ft into the field, the airplane began to descend rapidly, and he pitched the nose of the airplane up. He added that the descent rate continued, and the airplane began to lose airspeed. The landing gear struck the corn, the airplane impacted terrain and came to rest inverted. The pilot added that he believed a combination of descending air that rolled over the north line of trees, wind shear, and the low altitude flying, and reduced margin of error for the proper application of pesticide caused the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A weather station, located about 3 miles to the northeast of the accident site, about the time of the accident, reported temperature 85.3°F, dew point 68.3°F, and wind from 293° at 6 mph, gusting to 8 mph. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N851EJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N851EJ), registered now, S/N 1Z017-24, built 1987 (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) - Registry engine: [Wsk-Pzl ASZ-621R-M18](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wsk-pzl-asz-621r-m18) (registry code 67209, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1Z017-24 - Airframe hours: 2795.1 - Engines: WSK-PZL ASZ-62IR-M18 980 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Jersey Devil Dusters LLC - Registered owner: Jersey Devil Dusters LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 7, 2018 - Departed: HTF, Hornell, NY - Destination: HTF, Hornell, NY - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 23, 2017; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,396 total, 28.3 in this make and model, 1,339 as pilot in command, 101.9 in the last 90 days, 65.8 in the last 30 days, 7.3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KDSV, 18 nm away ## 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 20180804009869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180804009869A), Aug 4, 2018: Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A, Dansville, NY, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that while cresting a hill to begin his aerial application the aircraft descended rapidly. He attempted to pull up but the aircraft struck the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 19, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98135. 6.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468444&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468445&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Weather Excerpt (item 3, .PDF, 127 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468446&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Excerpt-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 4, .PDF, 2 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468447&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.PDF 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.