Pzl-Mielec M18 accident near Clover Bend, Arkansas, May 26, 2005
On May 26, 2005 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Pzl-Mielec M18, registered N93982, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clover Bend, Arkansas. 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
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. A contributing factor was the dust devil (whirlwind) encountered.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 2005 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Clover Bend, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pzl-Mielec M18
- Registration
- N93982 · no longer on the register · serial 1Z007-03
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
In a written statement, the 25,960-hour commercial pilot reported that he taken approximately 10 loads (approximately 4,500-lbs per load) from the east-west, 2,500-foot long by 80-foot wide grass-gravel runway prior to the accident. On the accident run, the turbine powered airplane lifted-off approximately two-thirds of the way down the runway and subsequently encountered a "twister" just after braking ground. He further stated, that after encountering the twister, the airplane yawed to the right approximately 20 degrees and lost speed and lift. The pilot said he could not maintain altitude and the airplane touched down in a field 50-to-100 feet north of the runway, and slid until the airplane collided with a levee and a road.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,960 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,079 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2005; 112 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allied Signal TPE-331-11U (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hoxie Flying Service, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: Clover Bend AR at 8:00 pm
- Destination: Clover Bend AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; a few clouds at 4,300 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from ARG
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.