Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18 N52401

Summary

On 8 June 1999 at about 15:00 local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18 registered N52401 was involved in an accident near Dewitt, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 June 1999 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Dewitt, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Bullock Flying Service (NONE)

Coordinates

34.2805, -91.3300

Aircraft

Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18

Registration

N52401

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

FTW99LA161

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadvertent flight into adverse weather, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control. A factor was the downdraft weather condition.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The agricultural airplane settled back to the ground after takeoff to the south from a private air strip 'as if it had encountered a downdraft.' The airplane impacted a levee south of the 2,600 foot air strip and nosed over. Subsequently, a postimpact fire erupted and consumed the airplane's fuselage. The pilot stated that it was his sixth insecticide/fertilizer application flight of the day, and that the airplane had 'lifted off the ground at the same spot it always does.' The pilot added that there was a 'small thunderstorm' north of the air strip at the time of the accident. He reported that the wind had been from 263 degrees at 4 knots all morning. The closest weather reporting station, located about 15 miles southwest of the accident site, reported calm winds. The operator stated that he could find no anomalies with the airframe and engine. He added that the airplane was within weight and balance limitations at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.