# NTSB CHI01LA269: Cessna P210N, N5268W, Mackinac Island, MI, August 9, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 2001, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Mackinac Island, MI - Coordinates: 45.850673, -84.61943 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8507&lon=-84.6194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Grand Rapids, Michigan - FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52994 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA269 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52994/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA269 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain proper glidepath during the landing approach resulting in the pilot not maintaining clearance from the trees. Factors were the haze, the gusty winds, and the trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach ## Analysis The airplane impacted trees and terrain short of the runway while landing. The pilot said that he encountered turbulence in the traffic pattern. He said that the stall warning horn sounded and he added power, but could not clear the trees. He said that he elected to retract the flaps, hold his attitude and clear the trees if possible, or land in the trees. He made no mention of mechanical difficulties. A witness said that he saw the airplane as it made its approach to land. He said that on the final approach the airplane, "...got very low." He estimated that the airplane was no more than 100 feet above the trees when it passed over the eastern shoreline bluff of the island. He said that the airplane then made a steep climbing turn to the left at a pitch of 30 to 40 degrees nose up. He said that he could see the top of both wings before the airplane passed from his view behind the trees. The wind was 250 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 19 knots and the wind direction was variable between 210 and 320 degrees. The visibility was restricted by haze. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that could be associated with a pre-impact condition. ## Factual narrative On August 09, 2001, at 1345 eastern daylight time, a Cessna P210N, N5268W, piloted by a private pilot was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain, and subsequently burned. The airplane was approaching to land on runway 26 (3,501 feet by 75 feet, asphalt), at the Mackinac Island Airport, Mackinac Island, Michigan. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and was on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The pilot and one passenger received serious injuries, and one passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated from the Palwaukee Municipal Airport, Wheeling, Illinois, at an undetermined time. In a written statement the pilot said that he was in the traffic pattern for runway 26 when he encountered turbulence. He said that the stall warning horn sounded and he added power, but could not clear the trees. He said that he elected to retract the flaps, hold his attitude, and clear the trees if possible, or land in the trees. He made no mention of mechanical difficulties. An airline transport pilot vacationing on the island witnessed the accident. He said that he saw the single engine Cessna airplane make an approach to land. He said that he heard the airplane apply power and he, "...knew the pilot was going around for some reason." He said that he saw the airplane make a second approach to land and that the downwind and base legs of the traffic pattern looked normal. He said that on the final approach the airplane, "...got very low." He estimated that the airplane was no more than 100 feet above the trees when it passed over the eastern shoreline bluff of the island. He said that the airplane then made a steep climbing turn to the left at a pitch of 30 to 40 degrees nose up. He said that he could see the top of both wings before the airplane passed from his view behind the trees. The approach end of runway 26 is about 4,000 feet from the eastern shoreline. The weather reporting station located at the destination airport recorded the weather at 1335 as: Winds 250 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 19 knots; Wind direction variable between 210 and 320 degrees; Visibility 3 statute miles with haze; Sky condition clear; Temperature 26 degrees Celsius; Dewpoint 23 degrees Celsius; Altimeter setting 29.74 inches of mercury. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that could be associated with a pre-impact condition. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5268W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5268W-2003-12-15), registration cancelled 2003-12-15, S/N P21000668, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna P210N - Registry model: [Cessna P210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210n) (registry code 2073454) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P21000668 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-P 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: LB Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PWK, Wheeling, IL - Destination: MCD, Mackinac Island, MI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MCD, Mackinac Island, runway 26, 3,501 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 1, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 565 total, 130 in this make and model, 540 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 9 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.73 inHg - Observed at: MCD, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010809021489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010809021489A), Aug 9, 2001: Cessna P210N, Mackinac Island, MI, No damage. (-23) Aircraft was cleared for a visual approach (IFR) to mackinaw Island. Pilot missed first attempt at landing. On second attempt aircraft descended low… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.