Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18 DROMADER accident near Colby, Kansas, July 11, 1994
On July 11, 1994 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18 DROMADER, registered N4367F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colby, Kansas (Shalz Field). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
fuel starvation resulting from the fuel shutoff valve closing as a result of improper adjustment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 1994 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Colby, Kansas · Shalz Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18 DROMADER M-18 DROMA
- Registration
- N4367F · registry record · serial I2014-10
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE HAD 170 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR CABLE ROUTING AND LENGTH WERE QUESTIONABLE, THE CABLE WAS OLD, AND THE POSSIBILITY EXISTED THAT IT WAS NOT SET CORRECTLY. THE ENGINE WAS PLACED ON A TEST STAND. IT STARTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,660 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 200 in the last 30 days; 13,660 as pilot in command; 1,700 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 5, 1994; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pezetel ASZ-621R-M-18 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,109 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from ICT, 60 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.