Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18 accident near Carlisle, Arkansas, April 10, 1998
On April 10, 1998 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18, registered N7046Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carlisle, Arkansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight and inflight planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the lost of engine power. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 1998 · about 1:00 pm local time · cases in 1998
- Place
- Carlisle, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18
- Registration
- N7046Y · registry record · serial 1Z013-47
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While climbing for the turn-around maneuver during an aerial application, the engine began to lose power. Despite his efforts during using the wobble pump, the engine lost power. A forced landing was performed to a plowed, soft field. The airplane nosed over during the landing. The pilot reported that the fuel gages indicated over 1/2 at the time of departure, and slightly over 1/4 full when the engine lost power. Examination of the fuel tank revealed readings representative of 'empty.' Inspection of the fuel tanks did not reveal any fuel leakage or spillage.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,727 hours in all; 560 in this make and model; 206 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 4,648 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,864 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 19, 1998; 112 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,340 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl-Kalisz ASZ-62IR-M18 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4M3 at 12:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from LIT, 25 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N7046Y on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Wsk Pzl Mielec 22 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pzl-Kalisz ASZ-62IR-M18 · as the NTSB recorded it
- Carlisle Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Arkansas 1,582 since 1982 · 177 in the last ten years
- Arkansas 3,491 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW98LA179.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.