# NTSB LAX06CA276: Interstate S-1A, N28332, Buckeye, AZ, August 1, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 1, 2006, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Buckeye, AZ - Coordinates: 33.433334, -112.683334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4333&lon=-112.6833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 64422 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA276 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64422/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA276 ## Probable cause the in-flight separation of the control stick. A contributing factor was the rough terrain for the forced landing, which resulted in a collapsed landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, maneuvering - flt control syst,yoke/control stick - disconnected (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, emergency landing ## Analysis The pilot reported that the pin that secured the control stick to the elevator control system came out, the control stick disconnected from elevator control rods, and he lost elevator authority. The pilot conducted a forced landing in an alfalfa field and the nose landing gear collapsed when it encountered the field's border. The airplane underwent its last annual inspection 34.5 hours prior to the accident. At the time of the last inspection the airframe and flight controls were lubricated. ## Factual narrative On August 1, 2006, at 1630 Pacific daylight time, an Interstate S-1A airplane, N28332, was substantially damaged when its nose landing gear collapsed during a forced landing in a field near Buckeye, Arizona. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured. The airplane was registered to a private individual, and was operated by the pilot under the provision of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The local flight departed the Buckeye Airport about 5 minutes prior to the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed. The accident site was located about 33 degrees 26 minutes north latitude and 112 degrees 41 minutes west longitude. According to a written statement provided to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane was about 150 to 200 feet above the ground when the control stick disconnected and the pilot lost elevator control. The nose of the airplane began to drop so he trimmed the airplane to maintain flight. He set up for a forced landing straight ahead between cement borders. The airplane touched down normally, but was nearing a cement ditch. The pilot applied full power and the airplane skipped over the ditch. The airplane then touched down in an alfalfa field and rolled out normally until the nose landing gear collapsed after encountering the field's border. The 1941 model airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that the pin that secured the control stick onto the elevator control rods came out. Review of the maintenance records revealed the airplane underwent its last annual inspection on August 2, 2005, at a total airframe time of 3,924.5 hours. A maintenance endorsement affiliated with that annual inspection revealed that airframe and flight controls were lubricated. At the time of the accident, the airplane accumulated 3,959 hours of operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N28332](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N28332), registered now, S/N 20 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Interstate S-1A - Registry model: [Interstate S-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/interstate-s-1a) (registry code 1850202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20 - Airframe hours: 3959 - Engines: Continental A-65-8F reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jack C. Gable - Registered owner: Wilbert Penfold - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2005, 34.5 hours before - Departed: BXK, Buckeye, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 82; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 3,000 total, 300 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20060801018769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060801018769A), Aug 1, 2006: Arctic S1AARCTIC, Buckeye, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) "On Tuesday, August 1, 2006 I took off from pierce aviation about 4:25 pm. I flew about 6 miles west to palo verde, at about 4:30 pm I lost elevator… 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.