Pezetel M-18 accident near Mer Rouge, Louisiana, June 7, 1988
On June 7, 1988 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Pezetel M-18, registered N4685R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mer Rouge, Louisiana. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1988 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Mer Rouge, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pezetel M-18
- Registration
- N4685R · no longer on the register · serial 1Z012-09
- 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 AG AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE STRIP WITH 3000 LBS OF FERTILIZER. 200 YDS LATER IT SETTLED IN A RICE FIELD AND FLIPPED FORWARD TO THE INVERTED. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. ELEVATION AT TAKEOFF WAS 150 FT MSL. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 2272 FT. MAX ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT WAS 10370 LBS. TAKEOFF GROSS WEIGHT WAS 10327 LBS.
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: 7,500 hours in all; 125 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,672 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1988; 151 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,370 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl-Kalisz ASZ-62-1R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Arkla Flyers, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,700 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from MLU, 24 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.
Other NTSB records under N4685R the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.