Pzl-Mielec PZL-M-18 accident near Rockford, Washington, April 16, 1984
On April 16, 1984 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Pzl-Mielec PZL-M-18, registered N28951, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rockford, Washington. 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
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
- April 16, 1984 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rockford, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pzl-Mielec PZL-M-18
- Registration
- N28951 · no longer on the register · serial 12007-15
- 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 PLT SAID THE ACFT WAS A 'LITTLE HEAVIER' THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THE ACFT BOUNCED SETTLED AFTER TAKEOFF AND THE RIGHT WING HIT A FENCE POST. THE COLLISION JAMMED THE RIGHT AILERON DOWN AND THE ACFT BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND CRASHED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,979 hours in all; 132 in this make and model; 132 in the last 90 days; 116 in the last 30 days; 132 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 401 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 18, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 12,125 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Asz 621R-M18 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from SFF, 23 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.
Other NTSB records under N28951 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.