# NTSB CHI84FA053: Cessna T210M, N761RN, White Lk Twnshp, MI, December 6, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 6, 1983, 17:41 local (22:41 UTC)
- Place: White Lk Twnshp, MI
- Coordinates: 42.680477, -82.909774 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6805&lon=-82.9098&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12379
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84FA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12379/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84FA053

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - temperature extremes (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - wing - ice (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - climb - not possible, pilot in command

## Analysis

AT ABOUT 1600, THE ACFT WAS TAKEN OUT OF A HEATED HANGAR & PARKED ON THE RAMP FOR REFUELING. IT REMAINED OUTSIDE UNTIL THE PLT TOOK OFF AT ABOUT 1740 EST. DURING THAT TIME, SNOW WAS FALLING & THE TEMP DROPPED FROM 34 TO 31 DEG. THE PLT INITIALLY CONTACTED THE CONTROL TOWER FOR AN IFR CLEARANCE AT 1658, BUT HIS DEPARTURE WAS DELAYED DUE TO SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS. HE WENT INSIDE WHILE WAITING. AT ABOUT 1715, A CONTROLLER CALLED THE COMPANY OPERATIONS TO NOTIFY THE PLT THAT TAXI CLEARANCE COULD BE EXPECTED IN ABOUT 10 MIN. AT 1728:48, THE PLT CONTACTED TOWER FOR TAXI & IFR CLEARANCE, THEN ACKNOWLEDGED THE TAKEOFF CLEARANCE ABOUT 11 MINUTES LATER. SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFF, THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED APRX 1 MI WEST & 3/4 MI SOUTH OF THE DEPARTURE END OF RWY 27. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE ACFT IN A SHALLOW, LEFT TURN & DESCENDING BEFORE IT CRASHED. ONE WITNESS SAID IT WAS WALLOWING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N761RN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N761RN-2013-05-08), registration cancelled 2013-05-08, S/N 21062459, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210M
- Registry model: [Cessna T210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210m) (registry code 2073451) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21062459
- Airframe hours: 3292
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-R 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Lentini Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Martin Abel
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 11, 1983, 283 hours before
- Departed: PTK, PONTIAC, MI
- Destination: AZO, KALAMAZOO, MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: runway 27L, 6,200 × 150 ft, snow

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,106 total, 229 in this make and model, 1,868 as pilot in command, 270 in the last 90 days, 92 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 350° at 15 knots, gusting 33
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PTK, 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 19831206075509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831206075509A), Dec 6, 1983: Cessna T210M, White Lake Town, MI, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Aircraft crashed immediately after takeoff. Airplane had been parked out in snow before departure.

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.

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