Pzl-Mielec M-18A accident near Montrose, Michigan, November 20, 1995
On November 20, 1995 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Pzl-Mielec M-18A, registered N2296J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montrose, Michigan. It was a ferry 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 as a result of the separation of the throttle push-pull cable.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 1995 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Montrose, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pzl-Mielec M-18A
- Registration
- N2296J · registry record · serial 1Z 019-17
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED BEING IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 2,000 FT MSL WHEN THE AIRPLANE BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE. ENGINE POWER HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY SET FOR 27 INCHES MANIFOLD PRESSURE, BUT WAS INDICATING 19 INCHES. HE MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE OVER A HARVESTED CORN FIELD FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. WHEN HE RETARDED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE, THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN POWER. THE PILOT 'CUT THE FUEL OFF TO THE ENGINE AND BEGAN A LEFT TURN.' WHILE PERFORMING THIS ACTION, THE AIRPLANE 'GAINED ALTITUDE, AND SLOWED.' THE AIRPLANE WAS 20 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND IN A LEFT BANK WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE THREADED END OF THE THROTTLE PUSH-PULL CABLE HAD SEPARATED FROM THE FORK CONNECTOR AT THE CARBURETOR LEAVING THE THROTTLE OPEN AT APPROXIMATELY 18 INCHES MANIFOLD PRESSURE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,265 hours in all; 411 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 11,180 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,489 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 28, 1995; 215 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl-Kalisz ASZ-621R-M18 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: D95 Lapeer MI at 5:25 pm
- Destination: Nunica MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from FNT, 14 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.