Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sinton, Texas 78387
Sunday, April 13, 1997 16:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During a forced landing, following a total loss of engine power, the airplane flipped inverted in the soft field. The pilot reported that he was practicing with a newly installed GPS unit prior to beginning the spraying season. The mechanic, who repaired the airplane following the accident, reported that the engine driven fuel pump had failed; however, the reason for the pump failure was not determined. The pump was replaced and the engine operated at full power without discrepancies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Fuel starvation resulting from the failure of the engine driven fuel pump due to an undetermined reason. A factor was the soft terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/13/1997
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City SINTON
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78387
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 389
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 13 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2055
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:13PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6872
NTSB Number FTW97LA159
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Pzl-Mielec
Aircraft Model M-18A
Aircraft Series Identifier M-18A
Aircraft Serial Number 1Z019-05
Certified Max Gross Weight 10000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 21 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 390
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AMERICAN & EUROPEAN ACFT.SALES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2042 NW 100TH WAY
Aircraft Owner City CORAL SPRINGS
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33071
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MIROSLAV VUCETIC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address LARIMORE AIRPORT
Operator City LARIMORE
Operator State ND
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 58251
Operator Code PENG
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code T69
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1350
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --