Middle Georgia Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Perry, Georgia 31069
Sunday, January 9, 1994 15:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/9/1994
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City PERRY
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31069
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MIDDLE GEORGIA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 30
Airport Elevation 400
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 25
Weather Observation Facility ID MCN
Elevation of weather observation facility 354
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 9 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1605
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:22AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1432F
NTSB Number ATL94FA036
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172H
Aircraft Series Identifier 172H
Aircraft Serial Number 17254927
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 5 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 2139
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ELROD, JAMES E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 220 MACK THOMPSON ROAD
Aircraft Owner City PERRY
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 31069
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ELROD, JAMES E.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 220 MACK THOMPSON ROAD
Operator City PERRY
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 31069
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ORL
Destination City ORLANDO
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 2670
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --