Sunray Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lake Placid, Florida 33852
Saturday, May 22, 2010 8:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was departing from the 60-foot-wide runway, which was lined with trees on both sides. During the takeoff roll, the pilot stated that he drifted "too far over to the left" and the airplane's left wing impacted a tree. The airplane subsequently "pulled" to the left, impacted a second tree, nosed over, and came to rest inverted in a canal which ran alongside the runway. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/22/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Lake Placid
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33852
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 271724N
Event Location Longitude 0812136W
Event Location Airport Sunray Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 827 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID OBE
Elevation of weather observation facility 34
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.04
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27356
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 21 2010 9:54AM
User who most recently changed record coxp
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N80188
NTSB Number ERA10CA279
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PZL MIELEC
Aircraft Model M18
Aircraft Series Identifier A
Aircraft Serial Number 1Z025-10
Certified Max Gross Weight 11700
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 6 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3737
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Sunniland Aircraft Sales Inc
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Okeechobee
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34972
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Southern Air Services LLC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Myakka City
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 34251
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City Lake Placid
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City Lake Placid
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 24 2010 5:09PM
User who most recently changed record andj
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length --
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --