Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A accident near Indianola, Mississippi, July 31, 2002
On July 31, 2002 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A, registered N6236M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indianola, Mississippi (Indianola Muni airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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 airspeed which resulted in a stall and the subsequent uncontrolled collision with the ground while maneuvering for an aerial application run.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 2002 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Indianola, Mississippi · Indianola Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A
- Registration
- N6236M · registry record · serial 12023-08
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After the departure, the airplane was next seen by witnesses flying low over a tree line. One witness reported seeing blue/gray smoke coming from the engine compartment. Another witness reported that there was no smoke coming from the airplane. However, both witnesses agreed that the airplane entered a nose low turning attitude before colliding with the ground. The airplane rested in a nose down attitude with the engine buried in the ground. The wing assemblies sustained perpendicular crush damage to the leading edges. The engine assembly was taken to an engine repair facility where a teardown examination was conducted. The examination disclosed that the engine assembly sustained impact damage throughout the drive train of the engine. No mechanical problem was noted during the engine examination.
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: 10,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 350 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: February 24, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,384 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 25, 2002; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl-Kalisz ASZ62IRM180 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IDL Indianola MS at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,200 ft; a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from GLH, 12 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.