# NTSB MIA03CA108: WSK PZL Mielec M-18A, N82204, Baxterville, MS, May 13, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 13, 2003, 07:00 local (12:00 UTC) - Place: Baxterville, MS - Coordinates: 31.004999, -89.569999 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0050&lon=-89.5700&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 August 26, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 56982 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03CA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56982/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03CA108 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to continue the takeoff at a low airspeed which resulted in a stall, an uncontrolled descent, and an impact with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - low, pilot in command - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - rotation - initiated, pilot in command - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had completed the first agricultural application flight, and had returned for a second flight. He said that prior to takeoff the second time he on-loaded 90 gallons of fuel and about 5,000 lbs of fertilizer. During the takeoff roll on a grass strip the airplane developed normal power, and upon reaching the midfield the pilot said that the airplane seemed to be moving slowly. He further stated that "at the point of no return" he began dumping the load but the airplane still moved slowly, and upon reaching the end of the runway he forced the airplane to fly and flew it "behind the power curve" for about 300 yards, with it never gaining enough airspeed or lift to support flight. He said the airplane then "torque turned" and lost all altitude, impacting trees and incurred damage. Prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems. ## Factual narrative On May 13, 2003, about 0700 central daylight time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A, N82204, registered to and operated by Canam Aviators Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 137 agricultural application flight, crashed shortly after takeoff from a grass strip in Baxterville, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot was not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he had completed the first agricultural application flight, and had returned for a second flight. He said that prior to takeoff the second time he on-loaded 90 gallons of fuel and about 5,000 pounds of fertilizer. During the takeoff roll the airplane developed normal power, and upon reaching the midfield the pilot said that the airplane seemed to be moving slowly. He further stated that "at the point of no return" he began dumping the load but the airplane still moved slowly, and upon reaching the end of the runway he forced the airplane to fly and flew it "behind the power curve" for about 300 yards, with it never gaining enough airspeed or lift to support flight. He said the airplane then "torque turned" and lost all altitude, impacting trees and incurred damage. Prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82204](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N82204-2004-02-24), registration cancelled 2004-02-24, S/N 1Z025-02, built 1995 (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-K PZL ASZ-62IR](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wsk-pzl-k-pzl-asz-62ir) (registry code 67203, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12025-02 - Engines: Garrett TPE 331-11-0- 1100 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Canam Aviators Inc. - Registered owner: Canam Aviators Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Baxterville, MS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 8,800 total, 750 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20030513007249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030513007249A), May 13, 2003: Wsk M18A, Baxterville, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) During takeoff run pilot failed to obtain flying speed prior to liftoff and collided with trees. Pilot was operating out of a short unimproved strip. 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.