Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18 accident near Florida City, Florida, November 15, 1991
On November 15, 1991 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18, registered N4506K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Florida City, Florida. 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
PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A LOOSE INTAKE MANIFOLD. ALSO, IMPROPER MAINTENANCE BY AN UNKNOWN PERSON.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 1991 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Florida City, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18
- Registration
- N4506K · no longer on the register · serial 1Z011-05
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER MANEUVERING, THE ENG EXPERIENCED A NEAR TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PLT APPLIED FULL THROTTLE BUT THE ENG FAILED TO RESPOND. HE OPENED THE VALVE TO DUMP THE CHEMICAL & WHILE DESCENDING, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN. THE ACFT THEN CAME TO REST IN A FIELD. EXAM OF THE ENG ASSY REVEALED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE OIL SUMP WAS LOOSE. THIS ALLOWED AN EXCESSIVELY LEAN FUEL/AIR MIXTURE WHICH WAS VERIFIED BY VISUAL EXAMINATION OF THE SPARK PLUGS. REVIEW OF THE ENG LOGBOOK REVEALED THAT THE ENG WAS INSTALLED ON APRIL 5, 1989. THERE WERE NO ENTRIES INDICATING THAT THE CARBURETOR ASSY WAS REMOVED SINCE THE ENG WAS INSTALLED.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,731 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 6,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 9,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wsk PZL-KALISZ (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fable Spray Service, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 18 knots
- Sky: scat at 1,000 ft
- 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.