Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A accident near Burns, Oregon, July 8, 2007
On July 8, 2007 at about 2:16 am local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A, registered N92043, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burns, Oregon. It was a firefighting flight under public-use (government) rules. 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 2007 · about 2:16 am local time
- Place
- Burns, Oregon
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A
- Registration
- N92043 · no longer on the register · serial 1Z026-01
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Firefighting flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane conducted three retardant drop missions in support of a wild fire suppression prior to the accident. During the fourth drop while overflying the intended drop zone at 1,500 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but was not successful. Subsequently, the pilot jettisoned the retardant load, made an emergency radio call, and attempted a forced landing to a field with high vegetation and uneven terrain. The airplane touched down, skidded approximately 100 feet, and came to rest in an upright attitude. Examination of the fuel system did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation prior to the impact with terrain. The engine was operated in a test cell. During the test cell operation, the engine exceeded the 1,000 shaft horsepower rating and was free of surge and operated normally during transient power demands. No pre-existing conditions that would have precluded normal engine operation were noted. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 11,700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: TPE331-11U-61 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BNO Burns OR at 2:03 am
- Destination: BNO Burns OR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from BNO
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.