# NTSB CHI95LA232: PZL-Mielec M-18A, N80225, Carrington, ND, July 22, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 22, 1995, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Carrington, ND - Coordinates: 47.449996, -99.120826 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4500&lon=-99.1208&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 21, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9953 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA232 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9953/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA232 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation. Factors relating to the accident were: the airplane's excessive gross weight, and the unfavorable wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft weight and balance - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - variable wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - turbulence,terrain induced (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - not attained, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - object - vehicle ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE WAS LOADED TO A CALCULATED GROSS WEIGHT OF 10,653 FOR AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. THE MAXIMUM CERTIFIED GROSS WEIGHT FOR THE PLANE WAS 10,360 POUNDS, BUT THE AIRPLANE WAS AUTHORIZED TO EXCEED THAT WEIGHT FOR THIS MISSION. THE PILOT PREPARED TO TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 3, SINCE RUNWAY 31 (A LONGER RUNWAY) WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. HE REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE RUN-UP WAS NORMAL. HE SAID THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF AND SEEMED TO BE FLYING AS ALWAYS; HOWEVER, IT THEN SETTLED BACK TO THE GROUND ABOUT 321 FEET FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE THEN ROLLED ABOUT 320 FEET BEFORE HITTING A DITCH AND A GRAVEL TRUCK. THE TRUCK DRIVER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE THERE WERE TWO ROWS OF TREES (ABOUT 40 FEET IN HEIGHT) SITUATED NORTH AND SOUTH, JUST TO THE EAST OF THE AIRPORT. HE SAID THE AIR WAS VERY UNSTABLE DUE TO THE TURBULENCE CREATED BY THE NORTHWEST WIND COMING OFF THE TREES. THE PILOT OF ANOTHER AIRPLANE, WHO HAD BEEN SPRAYING A FIELD NEARBY, REPORTED THAT THE WINDS WERE SHIFTING FROM THE NORTHWEST TO THE SOUTHWEST AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS THE ACCIDENT. ## Factual narrative On July 22, 1995, at about 1300, central daylight time, a PZL Mielec M-18A, N80225, sustained substantial damage while attempting to takeoff from Carrington, North Dakota. The aerial sprayer settled to the ground after takeoff and travelled about 312 feet before impacting a gravel truck. The commercial pilot reported minor injuries to himself. The driver of the truck received serious injuries. The 14 CFR Part 137 flight was departing Carrington, North Dakota, on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that the aircraft was loaded by the ground crew with about 1/2 tank of fuel (95 gallons) and 450 gallons of water. He taxied to the south end of runway 3 and performed the runnup checks. He reported that he put in 40 inches of manifold pressure and 2300 RPM, and that the engine sounded okay. He reported that during takeoff the airplane broke ground and it seemed to be flying as always. The pilot reported that the airplane settled back down at about 321 feet from the end of the runway. He reported that the airplane traveled about 320 feet before impacting a gravel truck that was stopped at the intersection of a gravel road and the highway that ran east and west. Runway 3 is 2,255 feet long. Runway 31 was under construction at the time so it could not be utilized. The certified maximum gross weight of the airplane was 10,360 pounds. The calculated weight of the airplane at takeoff was about 10,653 pounds. However, under the FAA regulations governing the operation of aircraft under CAR 8 (Civil Air Regulations) at weights exceeding certified maximum weight, the airplane was authorized to be flown over its maximum gross weight. (See attachments) The pilot reported that the there were two rows of trees (about 40 feet in height) situated north and south just to the east of the airport. The pilot reported that the air was very unstable due to the turbulence created by the northwest wind coming off the trees. A pilot who had been spraying a field nearby reported that the winds had been shifting from the northwest to the southwest about the same time of the accident. An Airworthiness Inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration reported that the airplane never climbed out of ground effect but settled and touched down 321 feet from the end of the runway. He reported that the airplane rolled about 312 feet and hit a ditch along side of the airport road and impacted a gravel truck. The pilot had reported no mechanical problems during takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80225](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80225-1998-10-13), registration cancelled 1998-10-13, S/N 1Z02505 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PZL-Mielec M-18A - Registry model: [WSK PZL Mielec M-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-m-18a) (registry code 9810103) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1Z025-05 - Airframe hours: 225 - Engines: PZL-KALISZ KAD-315008 962 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: James L. Deterding, doing business as Aerial Sprayer - Registered owner: Andy Deterding Ag Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 10, 1995, 225 hours before - Airport: 46D, Carrington Municipal, runway 3, 2,255 × 43 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, expired; seat: center; flight hours: 9,500 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: JMS, 37 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950722019429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950722019429A), Jul 22, 1995: Mnmite M18*, Carrington, ND, Destroyed. Authorizied over gross flight. Settled after takeoff. Overran runway. Struck gravel truck. Shifting winds. (-23) pilot reported no mechanical problems during a… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.