Pzl-Mielec M-18B accident near Altus, OK
On May 25, 1999, a Pzl-Mielec M-18B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Altus, OK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 25, 1999
- Place
- Altus, OK
- Aircraft
- Pzl-Mielec M-18B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.640°N, 99.311°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X18743
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 25, 1999, approximately 1720 central daylight time, a Pzl Mielec M-18B (Dromader), N8199W, was substantially damaged after it settled to the ground following takeoff from Sheffield-Smith Airstrip, Altus, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant aboard the airplane, was fatally injured. The airplane was being operated by Pitts Ag Flying, Inc., under Title 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight which was originating at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed. An employee of the pilot said that the pilot had flown two flights previously that day. The first flight departed about 0800 with 550 gallons of applicant and returned at approximately 0945. The pilot departed on the second flight at approximately 1130, with approximately 300 gallons of applicant, and landed about 1230. When the airplane landed the second time, it was immediately refueled and put in the hangar because there were no further scheduled jobs that day. The employee further reported that later in the day, he received a cellular telephone call from the pilot who said that he had received an additional work order for 507 acres. A witness reported watching the pilot perform a preflight engine run-up, and he said the airplane sounded "OK" to him. He said the pilot began his takeoff roll to the south at approximately 1715. He further stated that during the takeoff roll the engine sounded smooth, but he thought the ground run looked longer than normal. The witness said that he saw a "puff" of what looked li
Probable cause
The pilot's disregard of takeoff performance data and his failure to jettison the load. Contributing factors were high density altitude, exceeding the aircraft's maximum allowable gross weight, and the berm.
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Browse: Oklahoma
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
