Gillespie/Pitts S1C N71309
6 May 1992 · Freeland, Michigan, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 6 May 1992 at about 17:45 local time, a Gillespie/Pitts S1C registered N71309, operated by Dean C. Vanzwoll, was involved in an accident near Freeland, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Freeland, Michigan, United States
- Nearest airport
- Tri Cities Int'l (MBS)
- Coordinates
- 43.5192, -84.1092
- Aircraft
- Gillespie/Pitts S1C
- Registration
- N71309
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Dean C. Vanzwoll
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Bay City → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI92DEM02
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE RUDDER CONTROL CABLE AND UNAVAILABILITY OF RUDDER TO CONTROL THE AIRPLANE DURING ITS LANDING PROCESS. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND REMEDIAL ACTION NOT BEING POSSIBLE ON BEHALF OF THE PILOT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT OF A TAIL WHEEL CONFIGURED AEROBATIC AIRPLANE HAD TOUCHED DOWN ON LANDING AND DISCOVERED THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL CONTROL. THE PILOT STATED HE TOOK OFF TO TROUBLE SHOOT THE PROBLEM. DURING THE INFLIGHT INVESTIGATION HE DISCOVERED THE RIGHT RUDDER CABLE HAD SEPARATED WHERE THE CABLE RUNS THROUGH THE COCKPIT NEAR THE RIGHT SIDEWALL. THE PILOT MADE A CABLE REPAIR SO IT WOULD ALLOW BRAKE SYSTEM OPERATION. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT LANDING THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT AS DIRECTIONALLY CONTROLLABLE AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. AS THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DECELERATE IT BEGAN AN UNCONTROLLABLE SWERVE WHICH RESULTED IN A LANDING GEAR COLLAPSE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 1992 | Piper PA-32RT-300T | Pullman, Michigan, United States | Weber, Tracy T. | Fatal | 1 |
| 3 Feb 1992 | Beechcraft 95-BE55 | Benton Harbor, Michigan, United States | Stanley P. MacKlin | Fatal | 2 |
| 18 Jul 1992 | Cessna 172N | Lake Michigan, Michigan, United States | Battle Creek Air Service, Inc. | Fatal | 4 |
| 12 Sep 1992 | Cessna 150H | Manistee, Michigan, United States | H. Paul Miller | Fatal | 1 |
| 26 Jan 1992 | Aerospatiale AS-355F1 | Lansing, Michigan, United States | Corporate Jets Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 19 Dec 1992 | Piper PA-24-180 | Gaylord, Michigan, United States | John C Myers & Clare R Colwell | Fatal | 2 |