Accident
The aircraft crashed on runway 16 at Dyess AFB, Abilene, Texas, during an attempted landing. The pilots reported elevator controls inoperative. The captain and copilot, the only occupants aboard, were killed, and the aircraft was completely demolished.
Investigation
Examination of the longitudinal control system revealed that the aft end of the aft link assembly was disconnected from the clevis in the elevator control horn assembly. This condition rendered the elevator control inoperative. Physical evidence conclusively showed that the bolt normally securing the link assembly-clevis attachment was not in place at impact.
Investigators determined that the bolt worked out after departure from Dyess AFB, resulting in loss of control. The bolt had been improperly secured, a condition that should have been detected during a No. 2 maintenance inspection completed just prior to the origin of Trip 7002. This inspection was performed by Associated Airmotive, Inc., a certificated repair station under contract with AAXICO.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause was loss of elevator control due to an improperly secured bolt, a condition undetected because of an inadequate inspection.