Cessna 210 accident near Macomb, Illinois, March 2, 2000
On March 2, 2000 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 210, registered N9552T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Macomb, Illinois (Macomb Municipal Airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the inadequate maintenance inspection prior to the ferry flight by the pilot/mechanic rated passenger who endorsed the airplane as airworthy, the shift in the number two main bearing left half, and the fractured crankshaft. A factor was the rough/uneven terrain and the ferry permit's procedures not followed by the pilot in command.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 2000 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Macomb, Illinois · Macomb Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N9552T · no longer on the register · serial 57352
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Cessna 210 sustained substantial damage on impact with rough terrain during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of power. The pilot rated passenger reported minor injuries and the pilot was uninjured. A bank repossessed the airplane. The bank was informed that the engine was reportedly making metal. The bank's broker requested a ferry permit from the FAA for being out of annual only. An aircraft purchase agreement was completed between the bank, the aircraft broker, and the pilot rated passenger for the buyer of record. The agreement stated, 'Aircraft sold as-is, where is.' The bank's representative said that no representations were made to the purchasers, that no reports of the airplane status were passed on to the purchasers, and that the ferry permit was faxed to his location. A special flight permit limitation stated that '1. Carriage of persons other than essential crewmembers is prohibited.' The accident pilot said that his medical certificate had been expired at the time of the accident. The pilot rated passenger was an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic. The passenger endorsed the airplane's logbook, 'I have inspected this aircraft [and] found it to be airworthy for a one time ferry flight in accordance with this ferry permit.' The accident engine was examined and found to have a hole in its case near the number two cylinder. Disassembly revealed silver colored and silver and copper colored debris in the oil sump pan. The oil screen assembly was found secured by twisted safety wire. That safety wire was coated with oil like substance and a dust like substance was found adhering those twists. The screen and oil cooler contained debris. The crankshaft's cheek was found separated between the number two connecting rod and the number two main bearing. The cheek was discolored and deformed. The number two main bearing was found with its left half not in place. The aft crankshaft section was sent to the Materials Laboratory for detailed examination. The lab report stated, 'Fracture features for the fatigue region emanated from multiple origins on the surface of the aft radius of the second main journal, with primary initiation approximately in the center of the origin area. The boundary of the fatigue region was obliterated by mechanical damage. The surface of the aft second main journal cheek radius was scored and burnished. Ladder cracks were also observed in the cheek radius.'
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,387 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 1,265 as pilot in command; 312 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Unknown (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 5, 1999
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JOT Joliet IL at 11:30 pm
- Destination: ICT Whichita KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.