N82019

On July 8, 1997, about 1030 eastern standard time, a WSK PZL Mielec M-18A, N82019, registered to Air Crop Care Inc., crashed during a forced landing near Clewiston, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. The commercial-rated pilot reported minor injuries. The airplane was destroyed. The flight had originated at the Belle Glade Municipal Airport, Clewiston, Florida.

The airplane departed from a section of road which was about 3,000 feet long. At an altitude of about 50 feet above the ground, in a left turn to the crosswind, the pilot reported that the airplane's engine lost power, and was running rough. The pilot maneuvered the airplane, touched down in the sugar cane field, the propeller struck a railroad switching unit, crossed over an irrigation canal, struck the bank of the canal with the tail wheel, nosed over, and a postcrash fire ensued.

According to the FAA inspector, examination of the wreckage revealed that the post crash fire melted the left wing root, the left main landing gear mount and the accessory case of the engine, "...it...[was]...deemed impractical to attempt to salvage the engine for run and post-crash testing." The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.