| Crash location | 42.543055°N, 113.772223°W |
| Nearest city | Burley, ID
42.535743°N, 113.792795°W 1.2 miles away |
| Tail number | N2709Q |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 20 Jul 2003 |
| Aircraft type | WSK PZL Mielec PZL-M-18 |
| Additional details: | None |
On July 20, 2003, about 2115 mountain daylight time, a restricted category WSK-PZL-MIELEC, PZL-M-18 (Dromader), N2709Q, crashed shortly after take-off at Burley Municipal Airport, Burley, Idaho. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was being operated in visual meteorological flight conditions and no flight plan was filed for the local post maintenance flight. Impact forces and post crash fire destroyed the aircraft. The commercial rated pilot sustained minor injuries.
In a written statement dated July 29, the pilot reported that he "inadvertently left the elevator control lock on [installed]..." He reported that he had aileron and rudder control, but the only means of controlling the airplane's pitch was via the elevator trim, which was limited. He further stated that he was unable to lower the airplane's nose and that after initiating a turn to the left, the airplane's nose "fell through." Shortly after initiating the turn, the airplane impacted terrain beyond the departure end of the runway.
The pilot's failure to remove the elevator gust lock prior to flight. Factors include the pilot's inadequate preflight.