Pezetel M-18A N8089Z

Summary

On 19 May 1997 at about 18:35 local time, a Pezetel M-18A registered N8089Z, operated by Allen Everett, was involved in an accident near Wilmot, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 May 1997 at 18:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Wilmot, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

33.0502, -91.5695

Aircraft

Pezetel M-18A

Registration

N8089Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Allen Everett

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW97FA193

1 person died.

failure of the pilot to remove the elevator control lock before the first flight of the day, which resulted in his inability to control the airplane, due to the locked elevator control. Related factors were: the prevailing high winds and the lack of a visible warning streamer/flag on the elevator control lock.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the agricultural aircraft departed from the operator's airstrip on his first flight of the day with a load of dry rice seed. After takeoff, the airplane turned to the right and crashed. A postimpact fire destroyed the airplane. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the elevators were locked. Further examination revealed that the control lock for the left elevator was still installed on the elevator. The control lock was not equipped with a 'remove before flight' flag or streamer. The winds during most of the daylight portion of the day were gusting up to 35 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.