Pilot Reported... He Was Unable To Move The Flight Control Stick Forward And The Airplane Started Climbing Aggressively

Location: Anchorage, AK Accident Number: ANC25LA008
Date & Time: November 2, 2024, 14:36 Local Registration: N55PK
Aircraft: Cub Crafters Inc CC18-180 Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Public aircraft

On November 2, 2024, about 1436 Alaska daylight time, a Cub Crafters CC18-180 airplane, N55PK, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident at the Lake Hood Airport (LHD) Anchorage, Alaska. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight.

The accident airplane was owned by the US Department of the Interior and operated by the National Park Service. The purpose of the accident flight was to reposition the airplane back to Fairbanks, Alaska where the pilot and airplane were based. The airplane departed from runway 32 at LHD at about 1436. The pilot reported that after the airplane became airborne, he was unable to move the flight control stick forward and the airplane started climbing aggressively. 

The pilot attempted to use the elevator trim control to lower the nose and level the airplane. Subsequently the airplane stalled and began an uncontrolled, nose down descent to the runway. The pilot was able to level the airplane slightly but there was insufficient altitude to recover from the stall. The airplane impacted the runway and came to rest about 78 ft from the initial impact site resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wing lift struts. 

A postaccident examination revealed that the rear flight control stick was incorrectly installed. The flight control stick was installed in reverse. The curve of the control sick was curved forward which resulted in the control stick coming into contact with the pilot’s seatback, which limited movement and prevented the control stick from moving forward. 

FMI: www.ntsb.gov