Pzl-Mielec M18 N93982

Summary

On 26 May 2005 at about 20:00 local time, a Pzl-Mielec M18 registered N93982, operated by Hoxie Flying Service, Inc, was involved in an accident near Clover Bend, 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

26 May 2005 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Clover Bend, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

35.9833, -91.0833

Aircraft

Pzl-Mielec M18

Registration

N93982

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Hoxie Flying Service, Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Clover Bend → Clover Bend

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW05CA137

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. A contributing factor was the dust devil (whirlwind) encountered.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

In a written statement, the 25,960-hour commercial pilot reported that he taken approximately 10 loads (approximately 4,500-lbs per load) from the east-west, 2,500-foot long by 80-foot wide grass-gravel runway prior to the accident. On the accident run, the turbine powered airplane lifted-off approximately two-thirds of the way down the runway and subsequently encountered a "twister" just after braking ground. He further stated, that after encountering the twister, the airplane yawed to the right approximately 20 degrees and lost speed and lift. The pilot said he could not maintain altitude and the airplane touched down in a field 50-to-100 feet north of the runway, and slid until the airplane collided with a levee and a road.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.