What happened
During the final approach to runway 18 at Mobile Downtown, the pilot notified air traffic control of an ongoing mechanical issue. While the ground controller confirmed visual contact and provided clearance to land, the pilot reported a runaway engine and indicated the necessity of shutting down the engine to manage the situation. As the flight continued its approach, the pilot expressed concern regarding the ability to reach the runway.
Shortly before reaching the threshold, the aircraft type struck a utility pole and impacted the ground, which subsequently triggered a post-impact fire. There were no specific casualty counts provided in the report, but the impact occurred short of the intended runway.
Findings
An inspection of the engine following the accident identified a mechanical failure within the fuel control unit. Specifically, the arm connecting to the fuel control unit interconnect rod end had separated from the rod end swivel ball assembly. The investigation revealed that the assembly had been improperly installed; the bolt head was positioned on the inboard side of the arm, while the washer and nut were located on the outboard side. This configuration caused the rod separation, leading to a loss of power lever control.
Although emergency procedures for a loss of power lever control were established—including specific airspeed, flap, and engine lever settings—the pilot did not follow the published instructions. Consequently, the aircraft was unable to complete the landing on the designated runway.