Piper PA 18-150 N5385Y accident near Merced, California

Probable cause

The separation of the flight control stick from the stub due to its improper installation.

NTSB analysis

According to the private pilot, during the personal flight in the airplane, he applied back pressure to the flight control stick to climb the airplane over an approaching hill, but the control stick separated at the stub. The pilot attempted to reinsert the control stick onto the stub while simultaneously adding power to climb, but the airplane impacted terrain, slid, and came to rest along the hillside.

Postaccident examination of the flight control stick revealed that the through bolt that secured the control stick to the stub was still secured to the control stick but not to the stub. There was no damage or deformation to the control stick or through bolt. Given the lack of damage to the flight control stick and through bolt, it is likely that the control stick was not properly installed during a maintenance activity; however, the maintenance logbook entries did not specify when the control stick was last removed.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR15LA126 for the full record.