# Accident 19980910023029A: Wsk-Pzl Meilec PZL M18B, Tappen, ND, September 10, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 10, 1998, 19:10 local time
- Place: Tappen, ND
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 46.8698° N, 99.6200° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8698&lon=-99.6200&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4450M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4450M-2000-04-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Wsk-Pzl Meilec PZL M18B (registry code 9810125, https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-meilec-pzl-m18b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA337](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA337) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980910023029A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT WAS TAKING OFF WHEN IT BEGAN TO SETTLE INTO SHALLOW WATER AND CATTAILS LOCATED OFF THE END OF THE STRIP, ACFT WAS DESTROYED. (-23) AIRMAN ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF AT 10,970 POUNDS FROM A 2900' RUNWAY. AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB OUT OF GROUND EFFECT AND AFTER ABOUT 300' FROM DEPARTURE END, AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN SUSTAINED FLIGHT, STALLED AND CRASHED INTO A CATTAIL SWAMP. AIRCRAFT WAS BROKEN INTO SEVERAL PLACES. THE EMPENNAGE WAS BROKEN COMPLETELY FROM AIRCRAFT AND BOTH WINGS SUFFERED SEVERE DAMAGE INCLUDING A BENT SPAR. TEMPERATURE AT NEAREST POINT OF APPROVED OBSERVATION WAS 93 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI98LA337](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA337), Sep 11, 1998: WSK PZL Mielec PZL M18B (N4450M), Tappen, ND, destroyed. Probable cause: the pilot's improper preflight preparation resulting in the airplane exceeding the available airstrip distance during takeoff. A factor contributing to this accident was the swamp.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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