Wsk Pzl Mielec TS-11 ISKRA accident near Shelby, North Carolina, November 20, 1994
On November 20, 1994 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec TS-11 ISKRA, registered N619R, was destroyed in an accident near Shelby, North Carolina (Shelby Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANDING APPROACH SPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A FINAL APPROACH STALL. FACTORS WERE THE NIGHT LIGHTING CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE THE LANDING LIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 1994 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Shelby, North Carolina · Shelby Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec TS-11 ISKRA TS-11 ISKR
- Registration
- N619R · no longer on the register · serial 1H0619
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS RETURNING TO HIS HOME AIRPORT AFTER A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. EARLIER, HE HAD MENTIONED THAT THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTING SYSTEM IN THE AIRCRAFT WAS INADEQUATE, AND EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO REACH THE AIRPORT BEFORE DARK. A WITNESS HEARD THE PILOT CALL ON UNICOM THAT HE WAS TURNING BASE TO FINAL. THE WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT ROLL OUT ON FINAL, WITH NO LANDING LIGHT ON. HE REPORTED THAT IT WAS DARK AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED RIGHT, THEN SUDDENLY TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DISAPPEARED BEHIND A RIDGE AND IMPACTED THE GROUND, ABOUT 300 FEET SHORT OF THE LANDING RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT FORCES AND FIRE. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS AT IDLE THRUST DURING THE APPROACH.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,200 hours in all; 4,090 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 8,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pzl-Rzeszow SO-3 (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: GAD Gadsden AL
- Destination: EHO NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 4,298 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from CLT, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.