Incident Overview
Shortly after takeoff, the elevator trim jammed, forcing the pilot to return to the departure airport. During the approach, the pilot was holding approximately 150 pounds of back pressure on the control wheel to maintain pitch attitude. When the pilot moved one hand to the throttles to reduce power, he was unable to maintain enough back pressure, causing the nose to drop. The aircraft subsequently impacted terrain about 300 feet short of the approach end of the runway.
Investigation Findings
Post‑accident investigation revealed that the elevator trim jam resulted from missing hardware. Specifically, company maintenance personnel had failed to install a cotter key. Additionally, the trim tab push rod attachment bolt, nut, and cotter key were missing. The absence of these components led to the jammed trim condition.