No fatalities

22 May 2010: PZL MIELEC M18 A — Southern Air Services LLC — Lake Placid, FL

Lake Placid, FL, United States

On 22 May 2010, a PZL MIELEC M18 A operated by Southern Air Services LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Lake Placid, FL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During takeoff on a 60-foot-wide runway lined with trees, the pilot drifted left, causing the left wing to strike a tree. The aircraft then hit a second tree, nosed over, and came to rest inverted in a canal. Substantial damage to the left wing; no mechanical malfunctions reported.

Incident Sequence

The aircraft was departing from a runway that measured 60 feet in width. Both sides of the runway were lined with trees. During the takeoff roll, the pilot reported that he drifted "too far over to the left." As a result, the left wing of the aircraft struck a tree. Following the initial impact, the aircraft "pulled" further to the left and collided with a second tree. The aircraft then nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position in a canal that ran alongside the runway.

Damage and Pilot Report

The left wing of the aircraft sustained substantial damage during the sequence of events. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that contributed to the occurrence.

Contributing factors

PilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintained