Cessna T210M accident near White Lk Twnshp, Michigan, December 6, 1983
On December 6, 1983 at about 10:41 pm local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N761RN, was destroyed in an accident near White Lk Twnshp, Michigan. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 6, 1983 · about 10:41 pm local time
- Place
- White Lk Twnshp, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N761RN · no longer on the register · serial 21062459
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,106 hours in all; 229 in this make and model; 270 in the last 90 days; 92 in the last 30 days; 1,868 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,292 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 11, 1983; 283 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lentini Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PTK Pontiac MI at 11:40 pm
- Destination: AZO Kalamazoo MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27L, 6,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 350° at 15 knots, gusting 33
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded at 300 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:47 pm from PTK, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.