Wsk Pzl Mielec M-26 N7080L

Summary

On 17 August 1995 at about 13:45 local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-26 registered N7080L was involved in an accident near Jonesborough, Tennessee, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 August 1995 at 13:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Jonesborough, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Tri-City Airport (TRI)

Coordinates

36.2897, -82.4700

Aircraft

Wsk Pzl Mielec M-26

Registration

N7080L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

St Petersburg → Blountville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL95FA159

1 person died.

a blocked fuel injector nozzle, which increased the engine fuel consumption; failure of the pilot to adequately monitor fuel consumption, which resulted in fuel exhaustion before the airplane reached the destination; and the passenger's interference with the flight controls during the emergency landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot took off on a cross-country flight with an estimated 6.5 hours of fuel on board. After about four hours of flight, he noted a total loss of engine power. He selected a forced landing area and maneuvered to land. During the final approach to touchdown, the nose of the airplane suddenly pitched up when the front seat passenger/pilot interfered with the flight control. Subsequently, the airplane collided with the ground in a nose low attitude. Examination of the airframe failed to reveal a mechanical problem. Functional examination of the engine revealed a plugged (blocked) fuel injector nozzle. Functional examination/check of the engine disclosed that the fuel consumption rate was high. With the injector plugged, fuel consumption was about 143 pounds per hour (pph). After it was repaired, the normal fuel rate was 107 pph. The airplane was equipped with a normal fuel quantity gage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.