Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18 N2709Q

Summary

On 21 July 2003 at about 03:15 local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18 registered N2709Q, operated by A-1 Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Burley, Idaho, 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

21 July 2003 at 03:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Burley, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Burley Muni (BYI)

Coordinates

42.5431, -113.7722

Aircraft

Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18

Registration

N2709Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

A-1 Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Burley → Burley

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA03CA144

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to remove the elevator gust lock prior to flight. Factors include the pilot's inadequate preflight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

In a written statement, the commercial pilot reported that he inadvertently left the elevator control lock installed. He reported that he had aileron and rudder control, but the only means of controlling the airplane's pitch was via the elevator trim, which was limited. He further stated that he was unable to lower the airplane's nose and that after initiating a turn to the left, the airplane's nose "fell through." Shortly after initiating the turn, the airplane impacted terrain beyond the departure end of the runway.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.