N617GA

On May 12, 1998, at 0250 eastern daylight time (edt), a Dassault Falcon DA-20, N617GA, registered to Grand Aire Express, Inc., of Monroe, Michigan, and operated by an airline transport pilot, ran off the end of Runway 21 (5,000'x100' dry/asphalt) at the Monroe- Custer Airport, Monroe, Michigan, after experiencing a stuck elevator control during takeoff. The pilot and co=pilot were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The 14 CFR Part 135 flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot-in-command reported that the flight controls were free when they were checked during the preflight and before takeoff checks. He stated he applied power to takeoff and at Vr (125 knots) when he went to pull back on the yoke, it would not move. He stated he tried to pull back three times to no avail. At this time, he called to abort the takeoff. He stated that he reduced the power to idle and applied maximum braking while the co-pilot extended the airbrakes. He reported that the airplane rolled off the end of the runway at which time he moved the throttles to the idle cutoff position. The airplane came to rest in a farm field off the end of the runway. The pilot-in-command reported that the balanced field length was calculated to be 4,500' with V1 being 123 knots.

The airplane was examined by inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration Belleville, Michigan, Flight Standards District Office. The inspection of the airplane's flight control systems failed to reveal any failure and/or malfunction which would have resulted in the pilot-in-commands inability to apply aft pressure on the control yoke.