Accident Overview
On August 5, 2016, at approximately 1800 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, registration N6542Z, impacted terrain near Kingsley Airfield (MO9) in Miller, Missouri. The commercial-rated pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The aircraft was registered to and operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight operated without a flight plan.
Pilot Account
According to a statement provided to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by the pilot, he was test-flying N6542Z, which had just undergone a complete restoration. Approximately 10 minutes after takeoff, the left aileron cable separated from the control stick. The pilot reported that he was able to turn the airplane back toward the runway. As the airplane slowed, it became increasingly difficult to control. The right wing then impacted a cornfield about 300 feet from the runway.
Examination Findings
An examination of the airplane by FAA inspectors revealed that the swage fitting on the aileron control cable had been improperly swaged. This allowed the aileron cable to come loose from a control turnbuckle. The aileron cable had been replaced and rigged during major maintenance, and the airplane completed its annual inspection on February 9, 2016. The accident flight was the first flight since that restoration and annual inspection.
Maintenance History
The aileron cable was replaced and rigged during major maintenance, and the annual inspection was completed on February 9, 2016. The accident flight marked the first operation of the aircraft following the restoration and inspection.