Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A N2159K

Summary

On 3 April 1996 at about 18:40 local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A registered N2159K, operated by Roberto Caiano, was involved in an accident near Hughes, Louisiana, 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

3 April 1996 at 18:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Hughes, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Worley's Airstrip (NONE)

Coordinates

30.7012, -92.6969

Aircraft

Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A

Registration

N2159K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Roberto Caiano

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW96LA159

1 person died.

the pilot exceeding the maximum authorized crosswind component of the airplane. Factors were the crosswind and the side sloping runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot's groundcrew, he had flown 5 application flights that morning. He then changed loading operations to another grass airstrip, one that he had never landed on before. One of the groundcrew reported that the airstrip appeared 'very short,' and he suggested to the pilot that he make his 'first ever' takeoff from the field with a partial load. The pilot agreed. A witness who was flying a few miles north of the accident site reported winds from the south at 35-40 mph, with higher gusts. The manufacture's published maximum crosswind velocity for the airplane is 13 knots. The takeoff roll appeared normal until a witness observed the left wing to 'rise up and then come down almost to the ground.' The aircraft veered right, exiting the north sloping airstrip. The aircraft came to rest in the inverted position. After the accident, one witness looked at the ground scars and reported that 'the brakes were applied alternately (right, left, right, left, right, left) then they were both locked-up.' The pilot had purchased this aircraft on 12/29/95, and had approximately 100 hours in make and model.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.