Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A DROMADER accident near Rockford, Washington, April 13, 1992
On April 13, 1992 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A DROMADER, registered N41891, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rockford, Washington (Private airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER USE OF RUDDER TRIM AND POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED AND LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1992 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rockford, Washington · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A DROMADER M-18A DROM
- Registration
- N41891 · no longer on the register · serial 1Z022-10
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IT WAS REPORTED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT FOR THE PILOT IN THIS TYPE OF AIRPLANE. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE POSITIONING FLIGHT, PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, THE PILOT DID NOT CORRECTLY SET THE RUDDER TRIM. DURING THE TAKEOFF, AS THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, IT DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE NARROW AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, WHICH SETTLED BACK TO THE GROUND AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A FENCE POST.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 292 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 1992; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl-Kalisz ASZ-621R-M18 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: A-1 Aviation INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,400 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.