Wsk Pzl Mielec M 18A accident near Blountstown, Florida, April 12, 2014
On April 12, 2014 at about 6:45 pm local time, a 1987 Wsk Pzl Mielec M 18A, registered N2297L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Blountstown, Florida (Calhoun County Airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the tailwind conditions and failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 2014 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Blountstown, Florida · Calhoun County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec M 18A, built 1987
- Registration
- N2297L · no longer on the register · serial 1Z017-30
- 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 pilot stated that after returning to the airfield from a local flight, he elected to land on runway 36 and acknowledged the presence of a quartering tailwind on final approach. After touchdown, the airplane continued to the left, departed the runway, and collided with a ditch. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left and right wings respectively. The reported wind at the airport about the time of the accident was from 160 degrees at 7 knots, gusting to 14 knots. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Response/compensation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,221 hours in all; 1,902 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 6,181 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 25, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,542 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 10, 2014; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allied Signal Garrett-II (turboprop); 7,960 hours total
- Operator: Canam Aviators INC
The flight
- Departed from: F95 Blountstown FL at 6:00 pm
- Destination: F95 Blountstown FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,100 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from F95
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.