CHI85LA168

1985-04-20 · MARLETTE, Michigan, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 77G

Aircraft involved

N3FW WHEAT PITTS S-1-S None

Factual narrative

100 YARDS FROM END OF RWY ON FINAL APCH PLT LOST RUDDER CONTROL. DURING LANDING ROLL AS AIRSPEED AND AILERON CONTROL EFFECTIVENESS DECREASED THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE SIDE OF THE RWY. THE LOWER LEFT WING CONTACTED A VASI LIGHT. INSPECTION REVEALED RIGHT SIDE RUDDER CABLE FAILED APRX 2 FT FROM RUDDER ATTACH POINT. CABLE APPEARED TO BE CHAFED OR CUT THROUGH 1/2 THE CIRCUMFERENCE. REMAINING PORTION APPEARS TO HAVE FAILED FROM INSTANTANEOUS TENSILE OVERLOAD. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1985_CHI85LA168.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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