Amateur-built M-18A accident near Tunica, Mississippi, July 11, 2007
On July 11, 2007 at about 3:50 pm local time, a amateur-built M-18A, registered N4305T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tunica, Mississippi (Tunica Municipal Airport). 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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 2007 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Tunica, Mississippi · Tunica Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built M-18A
- Registration
- N4305T · registry record · serial 1Z022-11
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The tailwheel equipped airplane experienced a loss of engine power during an aerial application flight. The 1,137-hour commercial pilot reported that he was maneuvering during a local flight when the radial engine began to lose power. The pilot checked his fuel gauges and reported both tanks indicated one-quarter capacity remaining. Due to his low proximity to the ground, the pilot was unable to safely restore engine power and the pilot elected to perform a forced landing in a cornfield. Upon landing, the left main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft subsequently nosed-over and came to rest in the inverted position. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
- Flight time: 1,137 hours in all; 133 in this make and model; 172 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days; 1,034 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,665 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2007
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wsk-Pzl-K PZL ASZ-621R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UTA Tunica MS at 2:30 pm
- Destination: UTA Tunica MS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:20 pm from UTA, 6 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.