SHIRLEY, NY, USA
N4410Z
PIPER PA-18-150
WHILE CLIMBING WITH A GLIDER IN TOW, THE TOW ACFT PITCHED NOSE UP. THE GLIDER & TOW PLTS RELEASED THE TOW ROPE & THE GLIDER PLT LANDED SAFELY. THE TOW ACFT MAINTAINED A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, STALLED, THEN ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT & CRASHED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LOWER ELEVATOR CONTROL CABLE WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE CONTROL HORN. THE ATTACH BOLT WAS LOCATED WITH ONLY ITS TIP IN THE HOLE OF THE LOWER CONTROL HORN. THE ASSOCIATED NUT & COTTER PIN WERE NOT FOUND. THE ACFT LOG SHOWED THAT AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ABOUT 30 FLT HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. AT THAT TIME, THE CONTROLS WERE LUBRICATED & CHECKED & THE AIRFRAME WAS RE-COVERED WITH FABRIC. THE PLT'S LAST BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW WAS ON 2/7/82.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
