T&T Aviation INC FALCON LS accident near Lee'S Summit, Missouri, August 1, 2011
On August 1, 2011 at about 2:00 am local time, a T&T Aviation INC FALCON LS, registered N785TT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Lee'S Summit, Missouri (Lee'S Summit Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A binding condition in the left rudder cable which resulted in a loss of directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2011 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Lee'S Summit, Missouri · Lee'S Summit Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- T&T Aviation INC FALCON LS
- Registration
- N785TT · no longer on the register · serial CA-05-007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, when the nose landing gear touched down, the airplane veered to the left and departed the runway pavement. The pilot's efforts to maintain control were not effective, and the airplane struck several runway signs before coming to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage, and the nose landing gear collapsed during the accident sequence. A postaccident examination revealed a binding condition in the rudder cables. Deflection of the rudder to the right required a nominal force; however, centering the rudder from a right deflection required substantial force. The rudder tended to suddenly release and go hard left when the binding was overcome. Further investigation identified an approximate 10-degree bend near the forward end of the left Teleflex rudder cable. The airplane manufacturer stated they intended to remove the sleeved (Teleflex) cables and incorporate standard aircraft cables on all future production airplanes.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Flight control sys malf/fail during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Rudder control system › Malfunction
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 815 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 758 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 12, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 225 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 1, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Renegade Light Sport LLC
The flight
- Departed from: C47 Portage WI at 10:00 pm
- Destination: LXT Lee'S Summit MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,016 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from LXT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.