Monroe Custer Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Monroe, Michigan 48162
Tuesady, May 12, 1998 2:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot-in-command reported that the flight controls were free during the preflight and before takeoff checks. He stated the applied power to takeoff and at Vr (125 knots) when he went to pull back on the yoke, it would not move. He stated he tried to pull back three times to no avail. The takeoff was aborted and the airplane traveled off the end of the runway into a field. Examination of the airplane failed to reveal any failure/malfunction which would have prevented normal operation of the flight controls.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot-in-command's inability to rotate during takeoff due to restricted movement of the elevator controls for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/12/1998
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 250
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MONROE
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48162
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MONROE CUSTER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TTF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 616
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 158 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID TTF
Elevation of weather observation facility 616
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 5000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1306
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 12 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 854
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:18AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N617GA
NTSB Number CHI98LA151
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Dassault
Aircraft Model DA-20
Aircraft Series Identifier DA-20
Aircraft Serial Number 88
Certified Max Gross Weight 28660
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 0
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GRAND AIRE EXPRESS INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 721
Aircraft Owner City MONROE
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48161
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code TTF
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ILN
Destination City WILMINGTON
Destination State OH
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --