Cessna 421C accident near Birmingham, Michigan, January 29, 1986
On January 29, 1986 at about 6:14 pm local time, a Cessna 421C, registered N68653, was destroyed in an accident near Birmingham, Michigan. It was a business 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 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
- January 29, 1986 · about 6:14 pm local time
- Place
- Birmingham, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N68653 · no longer on the register · serial 421C1070
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT ROTATION THE RIGHT ENG FAILED. THE ACFT ENTERED A SKIDDING TURN TO THE RT AND CONTINUED TO CLIMB TO ABOUT 100 FT AGL. DURING THE TURN 110 DEG FROM T.O. HEADING ACFT ROLLED INVERTED AND DESCENDED INTO A CAR PORT. EXTENSIVE POST IMPACT FIRE DESTROYED ACFT, CAR PORT AND THREE VEHICLES. GEAR WAS NOT RETRACTED AND PROP WAS NOT FEATHERED. DURING POST ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE RT ENG EXTENSIVE INTERNAL DAMAGE WAS FOUND.
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
- Flight time: 1,750 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,275 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 27, 1985; 350 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTS10-520N (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 7D2 Troy MI at 6:13 pm
- Destination: LAN Lansing MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 3,855 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 23°F (-5°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from DET, 11 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.