Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A accident near Baxterville, Mississippi, May 13, 2003
On May 13, 2003 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A, registered N82204, was substantially damaged in an accident near Baxterville, Mississippi. 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 pilot's decision to continue the takeoff at a low airspeed which resulted in a stall, an uncontrolled descent, and an impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 2003 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Baxterville, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A
- Registration
- N82204 · no longer on the register · serial 12025-02
- 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 stated that he had completed the first agricultural application flight, and had returned for a second flight. He said that prior to takeoff the second time he on-loaded 90 gallons of fuel and about 5,000 lbs of fertilizer. During the takeoff roll on a grass strip the airplane developed normal power, and upon reaching the midfield the pilot said that the airplane seemed to be moving slowly. He further stated that "at the point of no return" he began dumping the load but the airplane still moved slowly, and upon reaching the end of the runway he forced the airplane to fly and flew it "behind the power curve" for about 300 yards, with it never gaining enough airspeed or lift to support flight. He said the airplane then "torque turned" and lost all altitude, impacting trees and incurred damage. Prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,800 hours in all; 750 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 10,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE 331-11-0- (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Canam Aviators Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: Baxterville MS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.