Mitchell T-10 N3221X

Summary

On 24 July 2001 at about 00:10 local time, a Mitchell T-10 registered N3221X, operated by Rayburn L. Williams, was involved in an accident near Ashland City, Tennessee, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 July 2001 at 00:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Ashland City, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Whifferdill (TN77)

Coordinates

36.3000, -87.0667

Aircraft

Mitchell T-10

Registration

N3221X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Rayburn L. Williams

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ashland City → Ashland City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL01LA091

2 people were seriously injured.

The restricted movement of the rudder cable, resulting in a loss of control and collision with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After takeoff from the private grass strip, the CFI reported an " extreme vibration" in the airplane. He retarded the throttle and the vibration diminished. When the CFI banked the airplane to return to the private grass strip, the left wing dropped excessively. As engine power was increased to maintain a climb, the airplane made an uncommaded roll and began descending. The airplane collided with trees during the uncontrolled descent and impacted the ground. The post-impact examination of the airplane showed that the left rudder cable had binded in the in the wing and the left rudder would ont travel about half the normal distance. The rudder assemblies are returned to the neutral position by spring action; the rudder assembly is designed to move in only one direction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.