Pzl-Mielec M-18A accident near Sinton, Texas, April 13, 1997
On April 13, 1997 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Pzl-Mielec M-18A, registered N6872, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sinton, Texas. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 starvation resulting from the failure of the engine driven fuel pump due to an undetermined reason. A factor was the soft terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1997 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sinton, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pzl-Mielec M-18A
- Registration
- N6872 · registry record · serial 1Z019-05
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a forced landing, following a total loss of engine power, the airplane flipped inverted in the soft field. The pilot reported that he was practicing with a newly installed GPS unit prior to beginning the spraying season. The mechanic, who repaired the airplane following the accident, reported that the engine driven fuel pump had failed; however, the reason for the pump failure was not determined. The pump was replaced and the engine operated at full power without discrepancies.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,800 hours in all; 530 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 390 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 21, 1997; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pezetel ASZ-621R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T69 at 6:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.
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.