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Accidents · NTSB CEN21FA239 · Final report

Amateur-built PZL-104 accident near Pearland, Texas, May 29, 2021

On May 29, 2021 at about 7:51 pm local time, a 1975 amateur-built PZL-104, registered N124MS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Pearland, Texas (Pearland Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the presence of a drainage ditch between the runway and taxiway.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
May 29, 2021 · about 7:51 pm local time
Place
Pearland, Texas · Pearland Regional · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Amateur-built PZL-104 Wilga 35, built 1975
Registration
N124MS · no longer on the register · serial 140543
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

Airplane position data indicated that the pilot and pilot-rated passenger conducted a local flight before entering the airport traffic pattern for landing. The pilot-rated passenger stated that it was a “good landing.” The airplane touched down on the runway centerline, did not bounce, and tracked straight down the runway until it 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 located between the runway and the parallel taxiway. A witness reported that the airplane touched down briefly but that it became airborne again and, about that time, veered to the right. It remained in a level attitude as it yawed to the right and exited the runway. Airport surveillance video footage depicted the airplane in a stabilized descent during the downwind to final turn. The pilot initiated the landing flare, and the airplane appeared to settle onto the runway. Shortly afterward, it veered abruptly to the right. The runway exhibited scuffing marks that began near the 1,000-ft touchdown markers and proceeded in a righthand arc to the edge of the pavement. The tracks continued into the grass area adjacent to the runway to the edge of the drainage ditch running between the runway and taxiway. The airplane impacted the opposite (rising embankment) side of the ditch, rose out of the ditch, and came to rest adjacent to the taxiway. The forward fuselage sustained substantial damage. A postrecovery airplane examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operations.

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

What happened, in order

  1. Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event

The NTSB's findings

  • Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
  • Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
  • Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway/landing area condition › Contributed to outcome

Pilot

  • Certificate: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 300 hours in all
  • Medical certificate: None
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: fatal

Pilot-Rated Passenger

  • Certificate: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 350 hours in all; 8 in the last 90 days
  • Last flight review: November 22, 2020
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: rgt
  • Injury: serious injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 3,674 hours
  • Last inspection: condition inspection, July 1, 2020
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,866 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Silnik AI-14AR/6 (piston); 3,082 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: LBX Angleton TX at 7:07 pm
  • Destination: LVJ Pearland TX
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 14, 4,313 ft by 75 ft
  • A second pilot was aboard

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: at 3 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
  • Observation at 2:53 pm from LVJ

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1
Passengers1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

11 documents, released by the NTSB on November 30, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.

The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.

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.