# NTSB ATL95LA011: Cessna 185, N6688H, Elizabethton, TN, November 3, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 3, 1994, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Elizabethton, TN - Coordinates: 36.329772, -82.229148 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3298&lon=-82.2291&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 18, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3495 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3495/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA011 ## Probable cause THE FLEXING OF THE RUDDER PEDAL CONTROL LOCKING ASSEMBLY WHICH RESULTED IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE CO-PILOT'S LEFT PEDAL DURING HEAVY BRAKING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - flt control syst,rudder control - unlocked - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - nosewheel steering - not possible, pilot in command - brakes(normal) - not possible, pilot in command - Other gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis DURING A THREE POINT LANDING DEMONSTRATION, THE LEFT PEDAL ON THE CO-PILOT'S SIDE OF THE COCKPIT COLLAPSED, AND THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. EXAMINATION OF THE RUDDER PEDAL ASSEMBLY FAILED TO DISCLOSE A COMPONENT FAILURE. ACCORDING TO THE MAINTENANCE INSPECTOR, THE LOCKING ASSEMBLY WAS RE-ENGAGED AND THE RUDDER ASSEMBLY OPERATED NORMALLY. THE INSPECTOR CONCLUDED THAT, HEAVY BRAKING CAUSED THE LOCKING ASSEMBLY TO FLEX ENOUGH TO RELEASE. THE MAINTENANCE INSPECTOR ALSO STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A FEW MALFUNCTIONS OF THE LOCKING ASSEMBLY. THOSE INCIDENTS REPORTED BY MISSIONARY PILOTS WERE CORRECTED BY DISABLING THE STOW ASSEMBLY, AND LOCKING THE PEDALS IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. ## Factual narrative On November 3, 1994, at 1500 eastern standard time, a Cessna 185, N6688H, went off the right side of runway 24 during an attempted landing at Elizabethton Municipal Airport, Elizabethton, Tennessee. The instructional flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the instructor pilot and three other pilots were not injured. The flight departed Elizabethton at 1300 hours. According to the certified flight instructor, he and three other private pilots were conducting routine training when he lost control of the airplane during a landing attempt. The airplane had rolled 500 feet when the left pedal collapsed. The airplane veered off the right side of runway and collided with the ground. A preliminary examination of the airplane disclosed that the instructor's left pedal unlocked and collapsed. Examination of the rudder pedal assembly failed to disclose any failed components. The examination disclosed some deformation to the locking assembly. The steering and braking systems operated normally, after the pedal assembly was restored to the normal operational position. The company maintenance inspector concluded that heavy braking caused the locking components to flex enough to collapse the left pedal assembly. The company maintenance inspector stated that rudder pedal malfunctions experienced by mission pilots were corrected by disabling the stow feature. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6688H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6688H), registered now, S/N 18503335 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185 - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 185-03335 - Airframe hours: 2694 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Moody Bible Institute - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 7, 1994, 39 hours before - Departed: 0A9 - Airport: 0A9, Elizabethton Municipal, runway 24, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14,692 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 14,000 as pilot in command, 159 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 200° at 3 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TRI, 20 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19941103037339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941103037339A), Nov 3, 1994: Cessna A185F, Elizabethton, TN, Substantial damage. During landing roll left adjustable rudder pedal unlocked and collapsed. CFI lost control. Heavy braking the cause. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.