What happened
Shortly after departing, the pilot notified air traffic control that the aircraft's control wheels had become locked. In response to this emergency, the controller provided the pilot with authorization to land on any available runway. Following this communication, the pilot ceased all radio transmissions, and the aircraft maintained a straight flight path. Onlookers observed the aircraft type performing a steady, low-speed descent. The flight path ended when the plane struck utility wires and subsequently struck the ground.
Findings
An investigation into the wreckage confirmed that the flight controls remained continuous and functional throughout the system. However, the intense fire following the impact and the damage from the crash prevented investigators from identifying the specific reason for the control wheel locking reported by the pilot. During the inspection, investigators discovered several unsecured cannon plugs and various heat-damaged wire bundles positioned across the control columns in front of the firewall. Maintenance records indicated that the last service performed on the flight controls occurred approximately four months before the accident, after which the aircraft had completed 91 flight hours.