Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18 accident near Bucklin, Kansas, March 27, 2000
On March 27, 2000 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18, registered N27301, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bucklin, Kansas (Bucklin Airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the right main gear brake was binding for an undetermined reason which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2000 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bucklin, Kansas · Bucklin Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18
- Registration
- N27301 · no longer on the register · serial 12008-04
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that on landing the airplane veered to the right when the right main gear touched down. He attempted to correct the swerve using the left rudder and brake to no avail. The pilot reported the airplane nosed over as he was retracting the flaps. Inspection of the airplane did not to reveal any failure/malfunction of the right brake. Further inspection revealed the right entry door could not be opened due to crushing on the upper canopy/cockpit area when the airplane nosed over. The emergency door jettison system was unusable due to the weight of the inverted airplane on the door hinges.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 5,173 hours in all; 159 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 5,120 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 12,125 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl Mielec ASZ-621R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8K0 at 2:45 pm
- Destination: 8K0
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,500 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from DDC, 20 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.
Other NTSB records under N27301 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.