Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary SEA92LA221

SPANGLE, WA, USA

Aircraft #1

N4685R

WSK PZL MIELEC PZL-M-18

Analysis

AT THE BEGINNING OF AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, THE OWNER OF THE AIRPLANE REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS LOADED WITH APPROX 300 GALLONS OF CHEMICAL. AFTER THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF OF THE GRAVEL RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT GAIN ALTITUDE. THE PILOT FLEW THE AIRPLANE IN GROUND EFFECT OVER A DITCH AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND CONTINUED FOR A FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO JETTISON THE LOAD; HOWEVER, DUE TO A CLOGGED NOZZLE, THE LOAD COULD NOT BE DUMPED. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE ROUGH TERRAIN. THE OWNER HAD THE ENGINE INSPECTED AND REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

Probable Cause and Findings

ALTITUDE WAS NOT ATTAINED. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: LOAD JETTISON WAS NOT POSSIBLE.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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