Cessna 172H N1432F

Summary

On 9 January 1994 at about 20:30 local time, a Cessna 172H registered N1432F, operated by Elrod, James E., was involved in an accident near Perry, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 January 1994 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Perry, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Middle Georgia (NONE)

Coordinates

32.4609, -83.7303

Aircraft

Cessna 172H

Registration

N1432F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Elrod, James E.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Orlando

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL94FA036

1 person was seriously injured.

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, IN THAT HE DID NOT REMOVE THE FLIGHT CONTROL GUST LOCK PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT. A FACTOR WAS THE USE OF AN UNAPPROVED, UNMARKED RIVET AS A FLIGHT CONTROL LOCK.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF FROM A PRIVATE, GRASS AIRSTRIP. HE STATED THAT HE WAS IN A HURRY, AND FORGOT TO REMOVE THE CONTROL WHEEL LOCK PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT. ONCE AIRBORNE, HE ELECTED TO TURN THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT AND LAND. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN AN OPEN, GRASS FIELD AND CAME TO REST IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. AN INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE PILOT WAS USING A 2 INCH RIVET INSTEAD OF AN APPROVED CONTROL WHEEL LOCK. THE RIVET WAS NOT PAINTED OR MARKED BY A FLAG. THE RIVET WAS STILL INSTALLED IN THE YOKE SLEEVE, WHICH WOULD LOCK THE CONTROLS, AND THE YOKE CONTROL TUBE WAS FRACTURED AT THE HOLE WHERE THE RIVET WAS INSTALLED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.