Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A DROMADER accident near Gerome, Arkansas, May 6, 1995
On May 6, 1995 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A DROMADER, registered N8025Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gerome, Arkansas (Delta Harvest (Private) airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S USE OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 1995 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gerome, Arkansas · Delta Harvest (Private) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A DROMADER M-18A DROM
- Registration
- N8025Y · no longer on the register · serial 1202509
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING ROLL, FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A SOFT AREA ON THE SOD/GRAVEL STRIP AND NOSED OVER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THERE HAD BEEN RAIN EARLIER AND THE STRIP HAD DEVELOPED A SOFT AREA NOT READILY DISCERNABLE.
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; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 7,500 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 7,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,218 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl-Kalisz AS Z-62IR-M18 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AR at 1:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,800 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.