Accident Sequence
The pilot had been sightseeing for approximately 30 minutes before initiating a right bank to return to the airport. Shortly after beginning the turn, the airplane began to descend. The pilot applied full back pressure on the controls, but the descent could not be arrested. In an attempt to recover, the pilot leveled the wings and applied full power. Despite these efforts, the airplane impacted a river sand bar.
Post-Accident Examination
Following the accident, an examination of the airplane revealed that the up elevator cable was disconnected from the control horn. Additionally, a collection of hardware—including a bolt, several castle nuts, washers, sheet metal screws, a spacer, and a remnant of a cotter pin—was found vacuumed from the floor of the airplane beneath the elevator control horn.
Maintenance History
The airplane had accumulated 142 hours of operation since its last annual inspection, which had been performed 10 months before the accident.