- Date
- July 10, 1996, 06:45 local (11:45 UTC)
- Place
- Mcgehee, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N80199Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 18, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960710046159A
- Case key
- 19902
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
a loss of engine power and subsequent engine fire for undetermined reasons.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was making an application pass on a north bound heading when his engine 'coughed' and the engine power failed; and, then the engine regained power. This happened three times prior to making a precautionary landing on a dirt road. After exiting the aircraft, the pilot noticed smoke coming from the engine cowling, almost immediately thereafter he saw fire. The aircraft was subsequently destroyed by the post landing fire. The owner's representative stated that 'the fire damage was so severe that a cause could not be determined.' He further stated that 'it appeared that the fire damage centered around the carburetor.'
Factual narrative
On July 10, 1996, at 0645 central daylight time, a WSK PZL Mielec M-18A, N80199, was destroyed by fire near McGehee, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The aircraft was registered to the Four W Flying Service, Inc., and operated by the Wilson Flying Service under Title 14 CFR Part 137. The flight originated from a private airstrip approximately 45 minutes before the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight, and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported to the investigator-in-charge that while executing an aerial application pass on a north bound heading, the engine "coughed" and temporarily loss power before regaining power. This partial loss of power sequence occurred 3 consecutive times and the pilot elected to execute a precautionary landing on a dirt road.
The pilot reported landing without further incident. After exiting the aircraft to initiate the troubleshooting of the engine, the pilot noticed smoke coming from the engine cowling, followed immediately by the presence of fire. The aircraft was subsequently destroyed by the post landing fire.
The owner's representative reported to the investigator-in-charge during a telephone interview that "the fire damage was so severe that a cause could not be determined." He further stated that "it appeared that the fire damage centered around the carburetor."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N80199
- Reported as
- Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1Z025-11
- Airframe hours
- 575
- Engine
- WSK PZL Kalis PZL ASZ, 967 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Wilson Flying Service
- Registered owner
- Four W. Flying Service Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- NONE
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 26
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,800 total · 550 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Observed at
- GLH, 30 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.