Columbia Metro Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

West Columbia, South Carolina 26169
Wednesday, May 25, 1988 21:06 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE USED ABOUT 1/2 OF THE 8,602 FT RWY FOR THE T/O ROLL. AFTER T/O IT PITCHED NOSE-DOWN BRIEFLY OVER THE RWY DURING INIT CLIMB. THE PLT RADIOED THAT HE WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE ELEVATOR WHICH REQUIRED 'FULL BACK PRESSURE' TO KEEP THE NOSE UP, AND THAT HE WAS RETURNING TO LAND. AFTER MANEUVERING AROUND THE ARPT, THE ACFT PITCHED 70-80 DEG NOSE DN AND DOVE INTO TERRAIN OFF THE APPCH END OF THE RWY. THE WRECKAGE EXAM REVEALED THAT THE BOLT SECURING THE ELEVATOR TRIM TAB PUSHROD TO THE ACTUATOR WAS MISSING. THE ROD HAD BECOME WEDGED INSIDE THE ELEVATOR WHICH RESULTED IN AN EXTREME TAB UP (NOSE DN) CONDITION. THE ACFT UNDERWENT AN ANNUAL INSP 2 DAYS/5 FLT HRS EARLIER. THE IA MECH RPTD THAT NO MAINT WAS PERFORMED ON THE TAB SYS, AND THAT HE WAS CERTAIN THE BOLT WAS PROPERLY SAFETIED. ANOTHER PLT WHO FLEW THE ACFT THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT RPTD THAT HE FOUND THE PUSHROD TO BE SECURE DURING HIS PREFLT INSP. THE 402B POH INDICATED THAT THE ACFT SHOULD HAVE REQ ABOUT 1,200 FT FOR THE T/O GROUND ROLL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/25/1988
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2106
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WEST COLUMBIA
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 26169
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport COLUMBIA METRO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CAE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 236
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2112 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 110
Weather Observation Facility ID CAE
Elevation of weather observation facility 2
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 7500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1277
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 25 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2305
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37373
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8493A
NTSB Number ATL88FA186
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 402B
Aircraft Series Identifier 402B
Aircraft Serial Number 402B0236
Certified Max Gross Weight 6300
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 2
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 23 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 5672
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SKYGO, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2238 CARMEN CT
Aircraft Owner City MORROW
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30260
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name NAPIER AIR SERVICE,INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address DOTHAN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
Operator City DOTHAN
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 36303
Operator Code EUUA
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 Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 2103
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ATL
Destination City ATLANTA
Destination State GA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 11
Runway Length 8602
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --