Tunica Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tunica, Mississippi 38676
Wednesday, July 11, 2007 10:50 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The tailwheel equipped airplane experienced a loss of engine power during an aerial application flight. The 1,137-hour commercial pilot reported that he was maneuvering during a local flight when the radial engine began to lose power. The pilot checked his fuel gauges and reported both tanks indicated one-quarter capacity remaining. Due to his low proximity to the ground, the pilot was unable to safely restore engine power and the pilot elected to perform a forced landing in a cornfield. Upon landing, the left main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft subsequently nosed-over and came to rest in the inverted position. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/11/2007
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1050
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Tunica
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38676
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Tunica Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID UTA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 6
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 194
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1520 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID UTA
Elevation of weather observation facility 194
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22142
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Jul 11 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 30 2007 12:18PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Jackson, MS

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4305T
NTSB Number DFW07LA154
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name WSK-PZL Mielic
Aircraft Model M-18A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1Z022-11
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5665
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name John Carson
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO Box 1974
Aircraft Owner City Tunica
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38676
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
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) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code UTA
Departure City Tunica
Departure State MS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code UTA
Destination City Tunica
Destination State MS
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering - aerial application
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 9 2007 4:01PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --