Wsk Pzl Mielec M18 accident near Weldon, Arkansas, October 5, 1999
On October 5, 1999 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M18, registered N4779G, was destroyed in an accident near Weldon, 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 cause of the accident was undetermined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 1999 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Weldon, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec M18
- Registration
- N4779G · no longer on the register · serial 1Z012-31
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The agricultural airplane was last seen spraying a field at 1600 on the day of the accident. The wreckage of the airplane was located at 1820 in a field located 1/2 mile north of the field where the airplane was seen spraying. According to a report by the local authorities, a beer can was found 'crushed between [the pilot's] lap and face.' Toxicological testing detected 159 mg/dL (0.159%) ethanol in blood and 178 mg/dL (0.178 %) ethanol in vitreous.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,963 hours in all; 4,131 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 15, 1999; 300 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl-Kalisz PZL621KAA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Wynne AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from LIT, 35 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.