Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A accident near Mcgehee, Arkansas, July 10, 1996
On July 10, 1996 at about 11:45 am local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A, registered N80199, was destroyed in an accident near Mcgehee, 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
a loss of engine power and subsequent engine fire for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 1996 · about 11:45 am local time
- Place
- Mcgehee, 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 M-18A
- Registration
- N80199 · no longer on the register · serial 1Z025-11
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was making an application pass on a north bound heading when his engine 'coughed' and the engine power failed; and, then the engine regained power. This happened three times prior to making a precautionary landing on a dirt road. After exiting the aircraft, the pilot noticed smoke coming from the engine cowling, almost immediately thereafter he saw fire. The aircraft was subsequently destroyed by the post landing fire. The owner's representative stated that 'the fire damage was so severe that a cause could not be determined.' He further stated that 'it appeared that the fire damage centered around the carburetor.'
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: 2,800 hours in all; 550 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 575 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 10,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wsk Pzl Kalis PZL ASZ (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 11:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Observation at 11:50 am from GLH, 30 miles away
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.