Smilin_Ed & NigelOnDraft
I like both of your answers.
Of course simply finding the controls in the same position to match the slats in itself is not conclusive....but it is supportive.
on the ohter hand finding the controls not in a position to match the slats does give more pause to reexamine the reasons why.
I agree that crash impact and body recovery can affect controls. Typically one would examine the freedom of the control to be easily moved out of position as well as interview the first responders (non-investigators)