Pezetel M-18A accident near Wilmot, Arkansas, May 19, 1997
On May 19, 1997 at about 6:35 pm local time, a Pezetel M-18A, registered N8089Z, was destroyed in an accident near Wilmot, 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
failure of the pilot to remove the elevator control lock before the first flight of the day, which resulted in his inability to control the airplane, due to the locked elevator control. Related factors were: the prevailing high winds and the lack of a visible warning streamer/flag on the elevator control lock.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 1997 · about 6:35 pm local time
- Place
- Wilmot, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pezetel M-18A
- Registration
- N8089Z · no longer on the register · serial 1Z025-19
- 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 of the agricultural aircraft departed from the operator's airstrip on his first flight of the day with a load of dry rice seed. After takeoff, the airplane turned to the right and crashed. A postimpact fire destroyed the airplane. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the elevators were locked. Further examination revealed that the control lock for the left elevator was still installed on the elevator. The control lock was not equipped with a 'remove before flight' flag or streamer. The winds during most of the daylight portion of the day were gusting up to 35 knots.
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: 8,577 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 891 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1997; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl-Kalisz PZL ASZ-62IR (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 25 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from GLH, 43 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.