Pezetel M18 DROMADER accident near Wilmot, Arkansas, August 17, 1985
On August 17, 1985 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Pezetel M18 DROMADER, registered N2620N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wilmot, Arkansas (Unknown airport). 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1985 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wilmot, Arkansas · Unknown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pezetel M18 DROMADER M18 DROMAD
- Registration
- N2620N · registry record · serial 1Z007-07
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT LIFT-OFF FM A PRIVATE AG-STRIP THE PLT EXPERIENCED AN ABRUPT RIGHT YAW. THE PLT STATED HE COMPENSATED WITH LEFT PEDAL TO MAINTAIN STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLT. THE PLT STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND DROPPED HIS LOAD OF CHEMICAL DURING WHICH THE ACFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND TOWARDS THE GROUND. THE ACFT IMPACTED TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 112 MILE OFF THE AG-STRIP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE SPRAY BOOMS WAS LOCATED JUST A SHORT DISTANCE OFF THE RUNWAY WHILE THE REMAINDER OF THE ACCESORIES WERE LOCATED RIGHT NEAR THE ACFT. THE ENGINE MOUNTING STRUCTURE WAS FOUND SEPARATED. METALLURGICAL TESTS SHOWED FAILURE TO BE FROM OVERLOAD. NO CONTROL FAILURE WAS OBSERVED.
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
- Flight time: 6,713 hours in all; 6,534 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 6,534 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,220 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 9,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl-Kalisz C-21R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Wilmot AR at 10:58 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:00 pm
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.