# NTSB SEA94LA201: WSK PZL Mielec M18S, N81705, Royal City, WA, July 30, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 29, 1994, 17:30 local (Jul 30, 1994, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Royal City, WA
- Coordinates: 46.900272, -119.660736 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9003&lon=-119.6607&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 December 7, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41991
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA201
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41991/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA201

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION.  FACTORS INCLUDE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND UNFAVORABLE WINDS.

## 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
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BEGAN ROLLING DOWN THE RUNWAY ON TAKEOFF AND EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL UNTIL HE NEARED THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COULDN'T GET THE AIRPLANE TO FLY.  HE DUMPED HIS LOAD, BUT IT WAS NOT ENOUGH THE CLEAR A HILL AT THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP.  AN FAA INSPECTOR STATED THAT A TAILWIND AND 100 DEGREE HEAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE INABILITY OF THE AIRPLANE TO CLEAR THE HILL.

## Factual narrative

On July 29, 1994, at 1730 Pacific daylight time, a Dromader M-18, N81705, collided with terrain after takeoff from a private dirt strip five miles east of Vantage, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot was not injured.

After filling up with chemicals to spray on nearby fields, the pilot attempted to take off. An FAA inspector stated that a tailwind and 100+ heat prohibited the pilot from clearing a hill and the aircraft collided with the hill.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N81705](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81705-2017-05-31), registration cancelled 2017-05-31, S/N 1Z020-17 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WSK PZL Mielec M18S
- Registry model: [WSK PZL Mielec M-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-m-18a) (registry code 9810103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12020-17
- Airframe hours: 1542
- Engines: PZL-KALISZ ASZ-621R-M18 967 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Brown Boy Aviation
- Registered owner: Brown Boy Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 5, 1994, 20 hours before
- Airport: B&G Farms, runway 9, 2,400 × 75 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 4,590 total, 200 in this make and model, 4,440 as pilot in command, 318 in the last 90 days, 125 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 100 °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 19940729019879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940729019879A), Jul 29, 1994: Wsk M18DROMADER, Vantage, WA, Substantial damage. Full load 100 degree heat and light tailwind. Unable to clear hill on climbout.

## Other investigations on N81705 (2)

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.

- [NTSB WPR09CA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA041), Nov 8, 2008: WSK PZL Mielec M-18A (N81705), Mountain Home, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, and, his failure to properly secure the aircraft as he left the cockpit with the engine operating, which resulted in the unoccupied airplane inadvertently…
- [NTSB SEA02LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA065), Apr 8, 2002: WSK PZL Mielec M-18A (N81705), Rockford, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning/decision to continue the takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the wind gusts.

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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