Cessna 680 incident near Wheeling, Illinois, January 12, 2014
On January 12, 2014 at about 10:15 pm local time, a 2006 Cessna 680, registered N531RC, was involved in an incident during enroute (cruise) near Wheeling, Illinois. It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). The NTSB record does not give the injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The disconnection of the left elevator trim driveshaft from the trim actuator due to the elevator trim tab drive pin becoming dislodged, which resulted in full nose-down elevator trim.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 12, 2014 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Wheeling, Illinois · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- The NTSB record does not give the injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 680 NO SERIES, built 2006 · all 680s on the register
- Registration
- N531RC · no longer on the register · serial 680-0107
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while climbing to 15,000 ft mean sea level, the autopilot disengaged and the autopilot disconnect chime sounded accompanied by an "AP fail A-B" message. At this point, the flight crew decided to return to the departure airport. The pilot noted that, while trying to slow the climb, "extra" force was required to push the airplane's nose down. He attempted to apply nose-down trim but felt no change and then noted that the elevator trim tab indicator was showing full nose-down trim. He subsequently landed the airplane without incident. Following the incident, the operator tested the stabilizer trim through its full range of travel and noted no discrepancy with the system or the elevator trim tab indicator. The operator contacted the manufacturer to assist in troubleshooting the problem. They found that the connecting pin linking the drive shaft to the left elevator trim tab actuator had become dislodged, which likely caused the left elevator trim driveshaft to disconnect from the trim actuator. The operator stated that it was aware that the elevator trim tab drive shaft pin on the same make and model airplane had dislodged on two previous occasions. The manufacturer is in the process of proposing changes to the drive pin dimensions and the method of securing the pin to prevent the elevator trim tab drive pin from dislodging.
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 enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Elevator tab control system › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 12,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 28, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,330 hours in all; 1,547 in this make and model; 3,800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 7, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,147 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 28, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 30,550 lb
- Seats: 12
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PW306C (turbofan); 3,148 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PW306C (turbofan); 3,148 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWK Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling IL at 10:17 pm
- Destination: PWK Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 13 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.62 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 pm from KPWK
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN14IA121.