Incident Overview
A pilot was conducting landing practice on runway 15. During the fourth takeoff, while on the downwind leg, the pilot attempted to push the control forward but found it would not move. The pilot then attempted an approach to runway 15 but was too high on final and executed a go-around to try another approach.
Final Approach and Landing
On the subsequent final approach, at approximately 400 feet above ground level, the pilot reduced the power to idle. The airplane contacted the runway at about 100 miles per hour. The pilot reported that the plane went end to end several times and hit the runway several times before coming to rest on the east side of the grass area. After the landing, the pilot taxied the airplane to the parking area and noted that the airplane had sustained damage.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed a stop-drilled crack in the tail cone fairing assembly adjacent to the elevator. This crack appeared to interfere with the travel of the flight control surface. Further examination showed that the tail cone had sustained impact damage in the area of the stop-drilled crack. According to the FAA inspector, the impact damage caused the interference with the travel of the flight control, and the crush occurred after the pilot had made a hard landing, resulting in the damage.