Originally Posted by
rickair7777
NTSB says probable cause was gust lock.
A full control check should have caught it, but it sounds like the lock allows enough rudder to taxi.
The control lock allows minimal rudder movement. As you say, a control check would have discovered a lock. Also, the locking mechanism is quite visible, and locks the stick as well. That airframe can be taxied with minimal rudder input, by using brakes.
On the L-19 , the predecessor, taxiing requires a lot of brake inputs, due to small rudder size and a heavy tail.
Hard for me to believe an experienced tail wheel pilot would overlook the control lock skip the control check. Incapacitation seems more likely.