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Tired Pilots
and Dark Cockpits
On October 10, 2004, about 9:00am, a float equipped Cessna 185 airplane
suntanned substantial damage during an uncontrolled descent and subsequent
impact with water, after takeoff from a remote river near King Salmon, Alaska.
The pilot received serious injuries; the three passengers reported no injuries.
During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot
related that the purpose of the flight was to go fishing. He stated that he
very familiar with Cessna 185 airplanes, but the accident airplane was a
friend's airplane and he did not bring his personal check list with him. He
said he relied on memory aids to complete the pre-takeoff checklist. He noted
that it was the first light of the morning, and that the cabin was fairly dark
in the morning light. He said in preparation for takeoff he failed to notice
that the control wheel lock for the elevator and ailerons had not been removed.
He said he was able to get the airplane airborne, but it pitched and climbed
rapidly, and he could not get the nose down due to the locked control wheel. He
reduced the power setting, and the nose pitched down. He said he realized the
control lock must be in place, and he was able to remove the control lock and
pitch the to a level attitude just before the plane struck the water. The
impact collapsed both floats and damaged the wings and fuselage. The pilot
noted that the control lock used by the airplane owner was a non-standard
control lock. It was a screwdriver, with the shaft placed through the hole in
the control wheel column.
"He said in
preparation for take off he failed to notice that the control wheel lock for the
elevator and ailerons had not been removed."
That seems
like it would be kinda hard to miss, but i guess if you where tired enough and
wanted to go fishing bad enough it could probably slip by you... ohh well I bet
he checks next time!!
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