Pzl-Mielec M-18B N8199W

Summary

On 25 May 1999 at about 22:20 local time, a Pzl-Mielec M-18B registered N8199W was involved in an accident near Altus, Oklahoma, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 May 1999 at 22:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Altus, Oklahoma, United States

Nearest airport

Sheffield-Smith Airstrip (OK83)

Coordinates

34.6399, -99.3105

Aircraft

Pzl-Mielec M-18B

Registration

N8199W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN99FA086

1 person died.

The pilot's disregard of takeoff performance data and his failure to jettison the load. Contributing factors were high density altitude, exceeding the aircraft's maximum allowable gross weight, and the berm.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The Dromader was departing from an 1,800 foot runway with a 250 foot overrun. The airplane was estimated to be 273 pounds overweight, and the density altitude was 3,244 feet. The pilot had set his flaps at 9 degrees, although other operators of the Dromader recommended 15 to 20 degrees of flaps for heavy gross weight takeoffs. The manufacturer's performance charts indicate that 1,800 feet is needed for a 10 degree flap takeoff under these conditions. A witness said that the airplane's engine was running smoothly, but the ground run appeared unusually long, and he saw it hit a small earthen berm at liftoff. He said the airplane popped up, then down, up again, and then nosed over onto its back. The airplane was found with its left main wheel separated, the crew compartment collapsed, the gate box (dump doors) closed, and approximately 510 gallons of applicant in the hopper. The engine was test run in its fuselage and operated normally with the exception of a 'popping' noise heard on its fourth run. Two exhaust valves were found heat blued, and one of the valves had a rub mark down its stem suggesting that it might have been stuck on some occasion.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.