Wsk-Pzl Mielec M18B accident near Eudora, Arkansas, June 17, 2005
On June 17, 2005 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Wsk-Pzl Mielec M18B, registered N16836, was destroyed in an accident near Eudora, Arkansas. 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 clearance from the tree.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2005 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Eudora, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk-Pzl Mielec M18B
- Registration
- N16836 · no longer on the register · serial 1Z026-22
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 16,990-hour commercial pilot departed from a private airstrip with the intentions of applying a partial load of fertilizer to a field. About 25 minutes later a crewmember heard what he thought was the returning airplane. When the crewmember got up and looked for the airplane he observed a bright flash of lightning streak across the sky and heard loud thunder. About 10-15 seconds later he observed black smoke rising from the accident site. There were no reported eye-witnesses to the accident. The initial point of impact was found at the top of a tall pine tree. Portions of the wing tip were located near the base of the pine tree. The airplane was destroyed by a post-impact fire. A weather front accompanied by heavy lighting was reported to have been moving into the vicinity at the estimated time of the accident; however, the investigation could not determine if the weather was a contributing factor to the in-flight collision with terrain.
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: 16,990 hours in all; 7,500 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 16,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 11,700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mielec ASZ-621R-M18 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Eudora AR at 1:00 pm
- Destination: Eudora AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; ovct at 700 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from GLH, 30 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.