- Date
- August 19, 1992, 18:45 local (Aug 20, 1992, 01:45 UTC)
- Place
- Mattawa, WA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N28951WSK PZL Mielec PZL-M-18
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 14, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920820032099A
- Case key
- 42881
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Loss of engine power due to fuel contamination as a result of inadequate maintenance by the operator. A factor contributing to the accident was soft terrain.
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.
Analysis
Fifteen minutes into an aerial application flight the engine began running rough and backfiring. The pilot diverted to a nearby airstrip and en route the engine ceased operating. During the subsequent forced landing the conventionally geared aircraft nosed over as it rolled out on soft terrain. Examination of the engine revealed no mechanical malfunction. Examination of the main fuel filter revealed debris within the filter cartridge and evidence of rust. Likewise, an examination of the carburetor fuel filter disclosed similar internal debris buildup.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N28951
- Reported as
- WSK PZL Mielec PZL-M-18
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1Z007-15
- Airframe hours
- 2,770
- Engine
- PZL-Kalisz ASZ 621 RM18, 967 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- B & R Aerial Crop Care, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Eskildsen, B & N, Mcmillen, W.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 8, 1992 · 264 hours before
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
- 48
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 8,905 total · 2,000 in this make and model · 8,905 as pilot in command · 247 in the last 90 days · 85 in the last 30 days · 11 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- YKM, 27 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.
Other investigations on N28951 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.