Probable cause
The separation of the left rudder cable turnbuckle and the pilot’s subsequent loss of directional control during landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the left rudder pedal suddenly "went slack" and moved forward to the firewall. He was unable to use the wheel brakes, and the tail slowly yawed to the left. The airplane skidded, the main landing gear failed, and the airplane came to a stop on the turf runway with substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination revealed that the left rudder cable turnbuckle was disconnected and its safety wire was broken. The threads of the cable rod end were not stripped. The last annual inspection on the airframe was completed about 5 months before the accident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA12CA215 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 6, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Mooresville, North Carolina
- Nearest airport
- Miller Air Park (NC30)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 140A
- N-number
- N5693C
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.