Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18 accident near Carlisle, Arkansas, July 11, 1995
On July 11, 1995 at about 11:50 am local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18, registered N4609P, was destroyed in an accident near Carlisle, Arkansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot delayed pull-up from a swath run and failed to maintain clearance from the obstruction (grain elevator). A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's use of medications that were not approved for use while flying.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 1995 · about 11:50 am local time
- Place
- Carlisle, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18
- Registration
- N4609P · no longer on the register · serial 1Z012-08
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the 4th swath run of an aerial application flight, the flightpath of the airplane was directly in line with a grain elevator that was near the edge of the field. The pilot initiated a pull-up to clear the elevator; however, the airplane struck the ridge line of the dryer roof on the elevator building. The airplane then went into an uncontrolled descent and impacted a lightning wire and a concrete building. Also, a person on the ground was struck by a brick and received minor injuries. A pathology report of the pilot indicated that he was flying with 'lesions that had an appearance consistent with healing burns.' Toxicology tests of the pilot's blood showed 0.087 mcg/ml Norpropoxyphene, and 0.638 mcg/ml Butalbital (pain medications). Tests of his urine showed 0.787 mcg/ml Norpropoxyphene, 0.394 mcg/ml Butalbital, and 81.1 mcg/ml Acetaminophen (Tylenol). Also, Chlorpheniramine (antihistamine) and Pseudoephedrine (decongestant) were detected in his blood; and Chlorpheniramine, Pseudoephedrine, Ephedrine (decongestant) and Phenylpropanolamine (antihistamine) were detected in his urine. According to an FAA toxicologist, each medication was below a therapeutic level; however, their combined effects would have been additive and may have caused impairment of the pilot. The pain medications and antihistamines are not approved for use while flying.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,149 hours in all; 3,712 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 120 in the last 30 days; 6,583 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,464 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 22, 1995; 504 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,125 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl Mielec ASZ 621R M18 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4M3 at 11:17 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 75°F (24°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 N4609P 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.