Cessna 421 accident near Harbor Springs, Michigan, December 17, 1983
On December 17, 1983 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 421, registered N7557Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Harbor Springs, Michigan (Harbor Springs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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 17, 1983 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Harbor Springs, Michigan · Harbor Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421 · all 421s on the register
- Registration
- N7557Q · registry record · serial 421B0345
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT AN OVERBOOST OCCURRED ON THE RIGHT ENG DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. HE PULLED OFF POWER ON BOTH ENGS BUT THE ACFT SLID OFF THE RWY INTO A SNOWBANK.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 6,800 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: LAN Lansing MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 28, 3,915 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:58 pm from PLN, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.