Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18 accident near Elaine, Arkansas, March 14, 1990
On March 14, 1990 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18, registered N28625, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elaine, Arkansas (Fess Pvt 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
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS, RUNWAY CONDITION, AND THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIMSELF AND THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 1990 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Elaine, Arkansas · Fess Pvt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18
- Registration
- N28625 · no longer on the register · serial 12008-19
- 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 ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM A NARROW 1600 FT STRIP WITH A HEAVY LOAD. REPORTEDLY, THE ACFT'S WING STRUCK THE TERRAIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT SPUN AROUND & WAS DAMAGED. THE PILOT SAID THE WEATHER WAS UNSETTLED WITH VARIABLE WINDS FROM 140 TO 170 DEG, GUSTING 20 TO 30 KNOTS. ADDITIONALLY, HE SAID THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A SOFT AREA IN THE RUNWAY THAT CONTRIBUTED TO A LOSS OF FORWARD MOMENTUM. APRX 60 MI WNW AT LITTLE ROCK, THE 1550 WIND WAS FROM 180 DEG AT 10 GUSTING 25 KTS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 1,400 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 13,900 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,125 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pezetel ASZ-621R-M-18 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fess Flying Service, INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 1,600 ft by 22 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:50 pm from LIT, 60 miles away
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.