Wsk Pzl Mielec M18A accident near Votaw, Texas, November 22, 2002
On November 22, 2002 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M18A, registered N6288M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Votaw, Texas. 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
A loss of engine power for undertermined reasons. Contributing factors included the unsuitable terrain for the forced landing and the lack of airspeed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 2002 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Votaw, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec M18A
- Registration
- N6288M · registry record · serial 1Z026-13
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After making one pass across the field and beginning a turn back to the field, the engine went to idle power. The pilot attempted to land on a highway, but due to loss of airspeed he chose to land straight ahead in a field of small pine trees. The airplane came to rest in an upright position, and no postimpact fire ensued. An examination of the engine failed to reveal any anomalies which 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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,000 hours in all; 2,100 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 21,850 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 2, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,465 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 29, 2002; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65B (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Wildwood Resort TX at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.