History of Flight
On May 29, 2021, at 1451 central daylight time, a PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104 Wilga 35 airplane, registration N124MS, was substantially damaged in an accident at Pearland Regional Airport (LVJ), Pearland, Texas. The pilot was fatally injured; the passenger was seriously injured. The flight was conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) data, the flight departed Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport (LBX) at 1406. The pilot proceeded east, overflew a portion of Galveston Island, then turned north toward LVJ. He entered a left downwind for runway 14 and completed a continuous left turn from downwind to final approach. The final ADS-B data point was recorded at 1451:00 as the airplane was on short final about 51 ft from the runway threshold. No ADS-B data was available for the accident sequence.
The pilot-rated passenger stated that the landing was “good.” The airplane touched down on the runway centerline and did not bounce. Initially tracking straight, it then veered to the right. The pilot applied left rudder, but the airplane did not respond. The airplane departed the runway pavement and encountered a ditch between the runway and the parallel taxiway. The passenger reported no issues with the airplane during the flight.
A witness in a helicopter holding short of the runway reported the airplane touched down near the 1,000-foot markers. He recalled that the main landing gear touched down briefly but the airplane became airborne again. About that time, the airplane veered right. It remained level as it yawed right and exited the runway.
Airport surveillance video showed the airplane during the downwind to final turn in a stabilized descent. As it reached short final, the camera view was obstructed by a hangar. When it reappeared, the pilot initiated a landing flare. Shortly after settling onto the runway, the airplane veered abruptly right and exited the pavement. It then encountered the ditch, dropped into it momentarily, reappeared on the opposite side, and came to rest.
Personnel Information
The pilot did not hold a current FAA medical certificate, and there was no record of him completing certification under the Basic Med program.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The runway showed scuff marks consistent with the main wheels beginning near the touchdown markers, proceeding in a right-hand arc to the edge of the pavement and into the grass. A small scuff mark near the edge appeared consistent with the tail wheel. The tracks continued through the grass to the ditch. Ground impact marks were on the opposite embankment of the ditch and adjacent to the parallel taxiway.
The airplane came to rest upright on a south heading. The engine was separated and located along the taxiway near the airframe. The two-blade wooden propeller was fragmented. The forward fuselage was crushed aft, consistent with impact with the embankment. The cockpit area was compromised, and the main landing gear collapsed. The center fuselage aft of the cabin buckled; the aft fuselage appeared undamaged and the empennage remained attached. Both wings remained attached with minor impact damage.
Flight controls remained attached and continuity was confirmed from each surface to the cockpit. The cockpit floor was buckled, and controls were damaged consistent with impact. Control sticks moved freely but limited by fuselage damage. Rudder pedals remained attached; rudder control linkage was damaged aft of the pedals. Wing flap control continuity was confirmed, but flap travel was restricted due to deformed fuselage structure.
Both main landing gear were deformed aft and upward. Left oleo strut was attached and intact; right oleo strut was separated at the upper attachment point, with fracture surface consistent with overstress failure. The right strut assembly itself appeared intact. Wheels rotated freely and remained inflated; brakes appeared serviceable with no evidence of leaks. The tail wheel assembly was intact and free to rotate.
A postrecovery examination revealed no anomalies attributable to a preimpact failure or malfunction.