Wsk Pzl Mielec M18 accident near Cherry Valley, Arkansas, June 16, 1995
On June 16, 1995 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M18, registered N2177Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cherry Valley, 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
FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1995 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cherry Valley, 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 M18
- Registration
- N2177Q · registry record · serial 1Z020-24
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
UPON COMPLETION OF APPLYING FERTILIZER TO A FIELD, THE AGRICULTURAL AIRPLANE LOST POWER AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A WHEAT FIELD. DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE TO CLEAR POWER LINES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE 'RAN OUT OF FUEL' AND LOST POWER.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,177 hours in all; 370 in this make and model; 320 in the last 90 days; 196 in the last 30 days; 2,034 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 801 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 1995; 250 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl-Kalisz PZL-3S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 2 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.
Other NTSB records under N2177Q 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.