Overview
An aircraft experienced a pitch control anomaly during departure, resulting in a descent into trees and a subsequent fire. The pilot reported that the controls did not respond as expected.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that the departure began normally, but after becoming airborne, the airplane's controls were not responding to his inputs as expected. The airplane continued to pitch up into a nose-high attitude, and he was unable to push the control yoke forward. He described the feeling as if he were “stretching” cables with forward pressure.
Maneuver and Impact
With the pitch uncontrollable, the pilot elected to make a rapid maneuver toward an unpopulated area. The airplane descended into trees. After the aircraft came to a stop, a fire erupted.
Examination Findings
A postaccident examination of the flight control system revealed no definitive evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. The elevator system was extensively damaged and partially consumed by fire, preventing determination of the pitch control anomaly's cause. The airplane’s weight and center of gravity could not be confirmed, and the burned remains of items found in the airplane could not be identified, nor their location at impact confirmed.