Dale "Snort" Snodgrass was a real-life Top Gun naval aviator, flying F-14s from carriers. [Courtesy: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum]
Key Takeaways:
Airshow legend Dale "Snort" Snodgrass died in a plane crash in Idaho last year due to a flight control lock not being removed before takeoff.
The NTSB's final report stated the engaged control lock prevented Snodgrass from lowering the aircraft's nose, leading to an aggressive pitch-up, stall, and spin after liftoff.
Post-crash investigation confirmed the control lock was engaged, with security footage showing no discernible movement of the elevators or ailerons.
The NTSB concluded that a pre-takeoff functional check of the controls would have detected the lock and prevented the accident, despite Snodgrass's extensive experience.
The failure to remove a control lock is blamed for the crash that killed airshow legend Dale “Snort” Snodgrass in Idaho last year.
“Had the pilot completed a functional check of the controls before initiating takeoff, the presence of the lock would have been detected and the accident would have been prevented.”
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
