John L Klein MARQUART CHARGERMA-5 N707JK

Summary

On 25 June 2003 at about 11:30 local time, a John L Klein MARQUART CHARGERMA-5 registered N707JK was involved in an accident near Pierson, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 June 2003 at 11:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Pierson, Florida, United States

Coordinates

29.2736, -81.3650

Aircraft

John L Klein MARQUART CHARGERMA-5

Registration

N707JK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ormond Beach → Pierson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA03LA134

1 person was seriously injured.

Separation of the elevator push/pull tube from the rear cockpit's control stick for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a loss of elevator control, an uncontrolled descent, and an impact with trees.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness stated that he was about 900 to 1,000 feet, and N707JK was about 400 to 500 feet below, in a position forward of his airplane's wing, such that N707JK was in constant view while flying in a loose formation. The witness said he saw left rudder movement on N707JK, and N707JK yawed to the left, yawed to the right, and then the nose dipped slightly and N707JK disappeared immediately in the canopy of trees. Within several seconds the witness said he was over the area where N707JK had disappeared, but he could not see anything due to the trees. He then increased his altitude, and made a radio communications call, declaring an emergency. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that that the rod end bearing on the elevator push/pull tube had disconnected from the rear cockpit's control stick, resulting in a loss of elevator control, and the connecting clevis bolt, castle nut, and cotter key were never recovered.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.