Pzl-Mielec PZL-M-18 accident near De Witt, Arkansas, May 1, 1993
On May 1, 1993 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Pzl-Mielec PZL-M-18, registered N28587, was destroyed in an accident near De Witt, Arkansas. 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
COMPENSATION FOR WIND IMPROPER BY PILOT. FACTORS WERE TAILWIND AND DOWNDRAFT
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1993 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- De Witt, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pzl-Mielec PZL-M-18
- Registration
- N28587 · no longer on the register · serial 1200817
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKEOFF TO THE NORTH, THE AIRPLANE WAS APPROXIMATELY TWENTY FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND APPROXIMATELY 4OO YARDS BEYOND A ROAD BEING UTILIZED AS AN AERIAL STRIP WHEN THE PILOT STARTED A TURN TO THE NORTHEAST. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT 'DURING THE TURN THE POWER SETTING WAS OK BUT THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO SETTLE AS IF IN A DOWNDRAFT.' PILOT REPORTED THE WINDS FROM THE SOUTH WITH GUSTS TO 15 KNOTS. THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE IN THE RICE FIELD. WITH THE CLIMB ATTITUDE OF THE AIRPLANE, THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE A BULLDOZER PARKED IN THE FIELD. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE BULLDOZER AND SUBSEQUENTLY, DURING THE UNCONTROLLED DESCENT, CAME TO REST IN AN INVERTED POSITION ON THE BANK OF THE RICE LEVEE. A POST CRASH FIRE DESTROYED THE AIRPLANE
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: 12,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 150 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: 5,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 15, 1993; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,340 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pezetel ASZ-621R-M-18 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AR at 1:30 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.