Cessna 310B accident near Mancelona, Michigan, November 21, 2012
On November 21, 2012 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 310B, registered N5419A, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Mancelona, Michigan (Lakes Of The North Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane after a loss of right engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination revealed no preimpact malfunction or anomaly that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 21, 2012 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mancelona, Michigan · Lakes Of The North Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310B · all 310Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5419A · no longer on the register · serial 35619
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness saw the airplane depart, however the accident was unobserved. The airplane was discovered 2 days later in a heavily wooded area about 1 mile from the departure end of the runway and about 3/4 mile to the right of the extended runway centerline. The airplane was almost inverted when it impacted the ground. Normal traffic pattern direction at the uncontrolled airport was to the left for this runway and the pilot was known to follow this requirement closely. The accident site's location relative to the departure runway centerline and the airplane's nearly inverted attitude at impact were both consistent with the pilot's failure to maintain a minimum control airspeed and a subsequent loss of control roll to the right. The right fuel boost pump switch was found in the "on" position, whereas the left boost pump switch was found in the "off" position. Although the right fuel boost pump switch may have moved due to impact, the as-found position was consistent with the pilot attempting to correct for a loss of right engine power during takeoff. Examination of the airframe, engine, and propeller did not reveal any anomalies associated with a preimpact failure or malfunction.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 19,310 hours in all; 500 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 10, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,483 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 4,700 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 3,713 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 5,856 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4Y4 Mancelona MI at 11:15 pm
- Destination: 4Y4 Mancelona MI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KGLR, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.