Cessna P210N accident near Wautoma, Wisconsin, October 26, 2004
On October 26, 2004 at about 4:25 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N5485W, was destroyed in an accident near Wautoma, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot not maintaining airplane control during cruise flight in instrument meteorological conditions after reporting a loss of gyros leading to his exceeding the design load limits of the wings. Factors were the clouds, the deteriorated vacuum manifold flapper valve, and the non-factory modification of that manifold by an unknown party.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 2004 · about 4:25 pm local time
- Place
- Wautoma, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5485W · no longer on the register · serial P21000695
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was destroyed during an in-flight break-up and subsequent impact with terrain. The pilot advised the controller that the airplane was losing its gyros and that he needed to descend. The pilot then reported that the gyros appeared to be working. The controller advised the pilot that the airplane was on a southwest heading and that the pilot could fly whatever altitude he was able to maintain. The controller was looking for an airport with visual meteorological conditions present and asked the pilot if the airplane was in the clouds. The pilot reported affirmative. The pilot's last transmission was that it was going into a spin. Radar contact was lost about that time. In a Sheriff's report, two witnesses indicated that they heard thunder or jets flying. The report showed that they heard a "high winding noise from [the] plane engine." The noise was directly above their position and they heard a loud bang. They reported seeing a plane at about 1,500 to 2,000 feet above ground level. The airplane was observed spinning straight down without its wings. The witnesses indicated that they observed something hanging from its tail section. A Meteorological Factual Report was compiled and the flight's plotted radar track showed that the airplane was in layered clouds and that there was visual flight rules weather conditions below the clouds. Recorded groundspeed varied between 130 to 160 knots. Winds aloft were headwind and quartering winds. The airplane's information manual's limitations section stated, in part, "Maneuvering Speed:4000 pounds-130 Knots Indicated Air Speed (KIAS), 3350 pounds-119 KIAS, 2700 pounds-106 KIAS Remarks: Do not make full or abrupt control movements above this speed." A flapper valve in the vacuum manifold exhibited deterioration and a crack. General observation of the manifold revealed that it had been disassembled and reassembled with non-manufacturer specified rivets. No further airframe of engine preimpact anomalies were detected with the recovered wreckage. Examination of instrument gyro rotors revealed rotational scoring. Post-accident toxicology evaluation of specimens from the pilot was consistent with the intermittent use of fluoxetine (a prescription antidepressant often known by the trade name Prozac). The pilot did not indicate any mental conditions or the use of any psychiatric medications on applications for airman medical certificate.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,544 hours in all; 12 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 6, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,686.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 2004; 80.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWK Chicago/Prospec IL
- Destination: PWC Pine River MN
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from VOK, 41 miles away
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.