Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18-A N92640

Summary

On 16 February 1996 at about 01:00 local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18-A registered N92640 was involved in an accident near Blythe, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 February 1996 at 01:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Blythe, California, United States

Nearest airport

Dirt Strip

Coordinates

33.7505, -114.5096

Aircraft

Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18-A

Registration

N92640

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Farm Strip → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX96LA113

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's premature lift-off and subsequent loss of control due to his failure to monitor the airspeed indicator during the takeoff roll.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot attempted a takeoff with a full load of chemical and water from a 2,500-foot dirt strip. The aircraft did not get airborne, veered off to the right side of the runway, collided with a canal, and then bounced over the canal and collided with the ground where the gear separated from the aircraft. The pilot indicated that the engine tachometer and manifold pressure were in the normal ranges and that the airplane just wouldn't lift off. He stated that he didn't look at the airspeed indicator during the takeoff. There were no mechanical problems reported.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.