Pzl-Mielec M18 accident near Bastrop, Louisiana, July 24, 1988
On July 24, 1988 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Pzl-Mielec M18, registered N46831, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bastrop, Louisiana (AG Strip 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 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
- July 24, 1988 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bastrop, Louisiana · AG Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pzl-Mielec M18
- Registration
- N46831 · no longer on the register · serial 1Z01227
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS AG AIRPLANE HAS A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM THAT OPERATES THE BRAKES AND FLAPS. THE ENGINE DRIVEN HYDRAULIC PUMP PROVIDES PRESSURE TO THE PRIMARY SYSTEM FOR NORMAL USE AND ALSO PROVIDES PRESSURE TO AN ACCUMULATOR FOR EMERGENCY USE. THE PRESSURE IN THE ACCUMULATOR CAN PROVIDE PRESSURE FOR SEVERAL FLAP MOVEMENTS PLUS SUFFICIENT EXTRA FOR BRAKE USE. THE PRIMARY SYSTEM AND ACCUMULATOR SYSTEM BOTH HAVE PRESSURE GAUGES. THE PILOT SAW THE PRESSURE DROP ON THE GAUGE AND FLEW TO A SATISFACTORY STRIP AND LANDED. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT SHUTDOWN THE ENGINE. ACFT TRACKED TO RIGHT, CROSSED A LEVEE AND WENT INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH. EXAM OF HYDRAULIC SYSTEM REVEALED A LEAKING SEAL.
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
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,997 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1988; 463 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,260 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl-Kalisz KALI52 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Arkla Flyers, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Mer Rouge LA at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from MLU, 20 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.