Pezetel 106A accident near Gulf Of Mexico, November 13, 1994
On November 13, 1994, a Pezetel 106A, registered YV618, was destroyed in an accident near Gulf Of Mexico. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT BECAME LOST OR DISORIENTED, ALLOWING THE AIRPLANE TO GET OFF-COURSE/OVER WATER; AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CLOUDS AND HIGH WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PREVAILING TROPICAL STORM, THE PILOT'S IMPROPER EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER CONDITION, THE LACK OF RADIO OR NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT, AND THE POOR LIGHT CONDITIONS (DUSK) AND LARGE WAVES/SWELLS IN THE FORCED LANDING (DITCHING) AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 1994
- Place
- Gulf Of Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pezetel 106A
- Registration
- YV618 · no longer on the register · serial 60112
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE POLISH BUILT AGRICULTURAL AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A FERRY KIT THAT EXTENDED ITS FUEL RANGE TO 10 HOURS. IT WAS BEING TRANSPORTED TO CARACAS, VENEZUELA. THE PILOT DEPARTED AMERICUS, GEORGIA AT ABOUT 1100 CST WITHOUT FILING A FLIGHT PLAN. THERE WAS NO RECORD THAT HE HAD OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING. THE FIRST LEG OF A FERRY FLIGHT WAS PLANNED TO OPA LOCKA, FLORIDA FOR AN OVERNIGHT STOP. HOWEVER, AT DUSK, THE AIRPLANE WAS SEEN OFF COURSE, OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO, ABOUT 350 MILES SOUTH OF MOBILE, ALABAMA. AT THAT LOCATION, PERSONNEL OF A LIBERIAN FREIGHTER OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE CIRCLING THE SHIP FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES WITH AN INTERMITTENT ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT WAS DITCHED IN 8 TO 10 FOOT SEAS. PERSONNEL OF THE VESSEL WERE NOT ABLE TO RESCUE THE PILOT. A TROPICAL STORM WITH HIGH WINDS WAS CENTERED OVER KEY WEST, FL. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ANY COMMUNICATION OR NAVIGATION RADIOS. THE PILOT HAD NO PERSONAL FLOATATION EQUIPMENT. HIS BODY AND SOME OF THE WRECKAGE WERE RECOVERED THE NEXT DAY BY COAST GUARD PERSONNEL.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,050 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 1994; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pezetel PZL-3S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ACJ Americus GA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: OPF Opa Locka FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°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.