Pezetel PZL-M-18 accident near Cheneyville, Louisiana, April 25, 1988
On April 25, 1988 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Pezetel PZL-M-18, registered N4226V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cheneyville, Louisiana (Cheneyville 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
- April 25, 1988 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cheneyville, Louisiana · Cheneyville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pezetel PZL-M-18
- Registration
- N4226V · no longer on the register · serial 1200504
- 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 SAID THAT AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRCRFT SEEMED EXTREMELY TAIL-HEAVY AND THAT HE USED 'BOTH FEET AND ONE ARM' TO HOLD FORWARD STICK. HE SAID THE AIRCRAFT WAS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE IN PITCH AND DISPLAYED A RIGHT TURNING TENDENDCY. THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT, ATTEMPTING TO LAND DOWNWIND ON THE TAKEOFF RUNWAY. HE REDUCED POWER AT 100 FEET AGL AND THE RIGHT WING HIT THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD RUDDER FAILURE PROBLEMS IN FLIGHT BUT WERE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE UPPER 1/3 OF THE RUDDER WAS BENT 45 DEGREES TO THE LEFT.
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: 7,965 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,704 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 9,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl-Kalisz ASZ-61IR (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Vaughn Flying Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: LA81 at 2:58 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,500 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 235° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.