Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A DROMADER accident near Wheatley, Arkansas, August 27, 1994
On August 27, 1994 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A DROMADER, registered N148RA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wheatley, Arkansas. 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
TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A CRACKED CYLINDER. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 1994 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wheatley, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A DROMADER M-18A DROM
- Registration
- N148RA · no longer on the register · serial 12013-21
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO A BEAN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE BEAN PLANTS PILED UP IN FRONT OF THE WHEEL AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER TO THE INVERTED POSITION. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE LEFT WING, HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, AND RUDDER. AN INSPECTION DISCLOSED THAT THE # 5 CYLINDER HEAD WAS CRACKED. CAUSE OF THE CRACK WAS UNDETERMINED.
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: 2,113 hours in all; 1,044 in this make and model; 498 in the last 90 days; 200 in the last 30 days; 2,113 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 10, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 9,260 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl-Warszana ASZ-621R-M18 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.
Other NTSB records under N148RA 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.