Piper PA-28-151 N44059

Summary

On 28 July 1996 at about 19:15 local time, a Piper PA-28-151 registered N44059 was involved in an accident near New Melle, Missouri, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 July 1996 at 19:15

Classification

Accident

Location

New Melle, Missouri, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-151

Registration

N44059

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chesterfield → Fulton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI96LA255

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's selection of an unsuitable area for an emergency/precautionary landing. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's continual operation of the airplane with a known deficiency (broken trim switch); an uncommanded activation of the elevator trim to the nose up position, which resulted from a short in the electrical wiring between a broken trim switch and the trim motor; and fence posts in the selected emergency landing area.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Shortly after takeoff, the elevator trim traveled to the nose up position. The pilot reported that he had to maintain 15 to 20 pounds of pressure on the control yoke to keep the airplane in a nose level attitude, and he had to hold the yoke about 2 inches from its forward stop. He was unable to rectify the situation, and he elected to make an off airport landing. During the landing, the airplane contacted fence posts, and both wings were separated from the fuselage. Postaccident inspection revealed that the wiring between the electric trim switch and the trim motor had shorted. This resulted in motor activation. The pilot stated the trim switch had been broken for 'years,' but he had never disconnected the wiring between the switch and the motor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.