# NTSB MKC89DCQ01: WSK PZL Mielec PZL-M-18-A, N7032M, Ingalls, KS, August 9, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: August 8, 1989, 19:35 local (Aug 9, 1989, 00:35 UTC)
- Place: Ingalls, KS
- Coordinates: 37.820888, -100.450851 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8209&lon=-100.4509&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 10, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34657
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC89DCQ01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34657/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89DCQ01

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN INADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/SPIN. AS HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO AVOID A POWER TRANSMISSION LINE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: RISING TERRAIN, TALL GRASS, TAILWIND AND THE TRANSMISSION WIRES.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerial application

## Analysis

DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, THE ACFT CRASHED NEAR A FIELD THAT WAS BEING SPRAYED.  IMPACT OCCURRED IN AN AREA WHERE THE PLT WOULD HAVE BEEN MAKING A PROCEDURE TURN FOR ANOTHER SWATH RUN.  THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN A STEEP DESCENT.  NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7032M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7032M-1990-05-30), registration cancelled 1990-05-30, S/N 1Z019-06 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WSK PZL Mielec PZL-M-18-A
- Registry model: [Wsk-Pzl-Mielec PZL-M-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-pzl-m-18) (registry code 9810102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12019-06
- Airframe hours: 273
- Engines: PZL-KALISZ ASZ-62IR-M18 967 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Ingalls Aerial Sprayers, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 12, 1988, 269 hours before
- Departed: 30K, KS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,383 total, 260 in this make and model, 2,292 as pilot in command, 230 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GCK, 13 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 19890808031619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890808031619A), Aug 8, 1989: Wsk PZLM18, Ingalls, KS, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Caught a wing on a fence during turn out after a spray run,cartwheeled, crashed and burned. Had confined turn 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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