Accident Details
An airplane carrying three occupants departed on a fishing trip. Witnesses reported that immediately after takeoff, the aircraft assumed a nose-high attitude and entered a stall/spin from an altitude of less than 200 feet at the departure end of the runway. The airplane impacted the ground heading 180 degrees from the direction of takeoff and was subsequently consumed by fire.
Aircraft History
The aircraft had not been flown for eight months prior to the accident. Records indicated that during the three-month period before that, it had flown no more than twice.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the wreckage revealed that an elevator control cable was misrouted, with evidence of snagging on a cable guide. Investigators were able to duplicate the condition, which prevented nose-down elevator input beyond the neutral position. No other mechanical discrepancies were found.