Pzl-Mielec PZL-M-18 accident near Sacaton, Arizona, August 9, 1995
On August 9, 1995 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Pzl-Mielec PZL-M-18, registered N6657C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sacaton, Arizona. 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
The loss of engine power due to a decoupling of the accessory drive that runs the high pressure engine-driven fuel pump.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 1995 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sacaton, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pzl-Mielec PZL-M-18
- Registration
- N6657C · no longer on the register · serial 1Z022-09
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A POWER SURGE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING INTO A DRY RIVER BED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A DECOUPLING OF THE ACCESSORY DRIVE THAT RUNS THE HIGH PRESSURE ENGINE-DRIVEN FUEL PUMP.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,000 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 17,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 649 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1995; 164 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,260 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.