On July 6, 1997, a Piper PA-34-200 (registration N4515T) was involved in an aviation accident near Fajardo, PR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: a malfunction (jamming) of the elevator flight control system for undetermined reason(s). This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot experiencing a stuck control yoke during climbout ditched the airplane in waters off Fajardo after losing elevator control. The airplane was not recovered.
Incident Details
The pilot reported that he had been conducting touch-and-go landings for approximately one hour when a loss of elevator control occurred during a climbout. The airplane had reached an altitude of 400 feet when the control yoke became stuck. Despite efforts to regain control, the pilot was unable to restore normal operation of the flight controls.
Pilot Actions
Following the loss of control, the pilot transmitted several 'mayday' calls. Recognizing that a controlled landing on land was not possible, he prepared the airplane for a ditching. The airplane came to rest in water about 130 feet deep, approximately 200 meters east of the Fajardo shoreline.
Aftermath
The airplane was not recovered for examination. The pilot did not report any previous flight control problems with the airplane prior to the incident.