NTSB Factual Report

On July 14, 2015 about 1456 central standard time, a Cessna 1959 year model 182B skydive equipped airplane, N2764G, registered to Cook Aviation of St. Louis, Missouri, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after the pilot bailed out (via donned parachute) due to flight control problems. There were no occupants on board when the airplane impacted. The air drop flight had been conducted under the provisions of Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 prior to the bail out. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from the Festus Memorial Airport (FES), Festus, Missouri, about 1415.

The pilot picked up 4 skydivers at FES. After climbing to 3,800 feet, one of the skydivers deployed, and at 11,000 feet the remaining three skydivers deployed. According to the pilot's statement, the procedure for deploying skydivers was to input 10-degrees of flaps prior to the skydivers' deployment. After the last skydiver, the pilot closed the door and started to retract the flaps from 10-degrees to 0-degrees. The pilot heard a "metallic" type snap noise and the airplane went into a spin. The pilot recovered the airplane from the spin about 7,000 feet. He discovered that the right flap was partially deployed about 5-degrees down and appeared to be crooked in its track. There seemed to be a vibration present from the right flap with restricted aileron control. The pilot stated that lateral control was difficult to maintain.

On UNICOM frequency, the pilot contacted an A&P mechanic who was based at FES to discuss the flap malfunction. The pilot then attempted to execute a straight-in landing at FES, but initiated a go-around when he was not able to maintain lateral control as the airplane slowed on approach. After attempting to change the flap position, only the right left flap responded and the right flap stayed in the 5-degree position. after 30 minutes of trying to control a slow spin, it was determined between the pilot and the A&P mechanic, that the pilot should bail out of the airplane. The pilot then maneuvered the airplane over unpopulated rural farmland to the east of FES. The pilot parachuted from the airplane after shutting down the engine. The pilot watched the airplane circle around him after his chute deployed. The pilot sustained no injuries from the event.

The airplane impacted a bluff with no post impact fire. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the top outboard section of the right flap had contacted the bottom inboard side of the right aileron. there was about 1/2 inch of rubbed exposed primer in the area of the contact. The right flap appeared to be misaligned in its track. The outboard side of the flap was retracted and the inboard side was extended in the track. There was a broken control cable inboard of the flap bell crank that was found dirty and rusty in the area of the break. Due to impact forces, the pre-impact condition of the flap rollers and tracks could not be determined.