Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A DROMADIER accident near Pine Bluff, Arkansas, April 9, 1995
On April 9, 1995 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A DROMADIER, registered N5277Z, was destroyed in an accident near Pine Bluff, Arkansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM REQUIRED AIRSPEED FOR FLIGHT, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 1995 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Pine Bluff, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A DROMADIER M-18A DROM
- Registration
- N5277Z · registry record · serial 1Z018-12
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE MANEUVERING TO DUMP WATER ON A FIRE, POWER WAS REDUCED TO DESCEND TO 100 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL). WHEN THROTTLE WAS INCREASED TO LEVEL OFF, THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE PILOT SWITCHED HANDS ON THE CONTROL STICK TO PUMP THE AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. HE THEN SWITCHED HIS HANDS BACK IN AN ATTEMPT TO ACTIVATE THE DUMP LEVER AND AIRCRAFT CONTROL WAS LOST. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY A POST IMPACT FIRE. THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE OPERATOR REPORTED FINDING WOOD 'CUT BY THE PROPELLER' AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,264 hours in all; 106 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 965 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 10, 1994; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl-Kalisz AS621R-M18 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: M76 Monticello AR at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°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.