Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18 accident near Carlisle, Arkansas, July 28, 1990
On July 28, 1990 at about 11:15 am local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18, registered N4609P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carlisle, Arkansas (Murray Airstrip airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
PILOT'S INITIATION OF THE ABORT WITH EXCESS AIRSPEED. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE ENGINE TACHOMETER OVERSPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1990 · about 11:15 am local time
- Place
- Carlisle, Arkansas · Murray Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18
- Registration
- N4609P · no longer on the register · serial 12012-08
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AG PILOT, WITH AN EMPTY AIRPLANE, ON TAKEOFF ON A SHORT STRIP, SAW THE TACHOMETER OVERSPEED. HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE ROUGH/UNEVEN SURFACE. HE SAID THAT WHEN THE END OF THE RUNWAY GOT CLOSER, THE SURFACE GOT BETTER, AND HE APPLIED FULL BRAKING ACTION, AND THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED FORWARD TO THE INVERTED POSITION. THE OWNER PUT THE TACHOMETER IN ANOTHER AIRPLANE AND IT OPERATED NORMALLY. OPERATOR OF ENGINE OVERHAUL SHOP CONTACTED MANUFACTURER FOR SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSPECTING FOR ENGINE OVERSPEED. MANUFACTURER REPLIED THAT ENGINE OVERSPEED NOT POSSIBLE WITH THIS ENGINE/PROPELLER COMBINATION DUE TO INTERNAL CONSTRUCTION OF PROPELLER.
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: 3,971 hours in all; 535 in this make and model; 3,772 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 880 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 1990; 430 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,260 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl Mielec ASZ-621R-M18 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 11:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 4 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.
Other NTSB records under N4609P 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.