Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A accident near Audubon, Iowa, August 18, 2009
On August 18, 2009 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A, registered N2065B, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Audubon, Iowa (Audubon County airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
A loss of engine power due to failure of the compressor turbine resulting from exposure to elevated operating temperatures for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 2009 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Audubon, Iowa · Audubon County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A
- Registration
- N2065B · registry record · serial 1Z024-18
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he noticed the engine was “low on power” during the takeoff. However, there was not sufficient runway remaining to reject the takeoff. He added that “at lift off, the engine lost more power” and he was unable to remain airborne. The pilot landed in a corn field about 500 feet from the end of the runway. A teardown examination of the engine revealed that portions of the compressor turbine blades were separated and fragmented. Metallic deposits (“metal splatter”) were observed on the compressor turbine blades, shroud, and guide vanes. Metallurgical examination of the compressor turbine blades did not reveal any material anomalies. No evidence of blade creep was observed. The damage to the compressor turbine, in conjunction with a lack of any material defects, is consistent with a short term exposure to elevated operating temperatures. The reason for the exposure to elevated temperatures was not determined. Damage to the engine power turbine section was likely as a result of the accident sequence.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › Compressor section › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › Compressor section › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 14,724 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 400 in the last 90 days; 200 in the last 30 days; 14,339 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 26, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,809 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 2009; 300 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-45B (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Miles Flying Service INC
The flight
- Departed from: ADU Audubon IA at 11:30 pm
- Destination: ADU Audubon IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,640 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 pm from ADU, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.