Cessna T210M accident near Highland, Michigan, April 2, 1986
On April 2, 1986 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N732KR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Highland, Michigan (Pontiac airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- April 2, 1986 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Highland, Michigan · Pontiac
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N732KR · no longer on the register · serial 21061577
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN CRUISE WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE SWITCHED TANKS AND THE ENGINE WOULD START TO RUN THEN MISS, START TO RUN THEN-MISS, OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE THIS WAS HAPPENING HE WAS LOSING ALTITUDE AND WHEN HE COULDN'T GET 'FULL' POWER HE DECIDED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT WITH WINGS LEVEL NO FUEL COULD BE DRAINED FROM THE RIGHT INBOARD SUMP AND APPROXIMATELY TWO OUNCES FROM THE LEFT INBOARD SUMP.
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: 637 hours in all; 290 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 435 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,217 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 3, 1985; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R-1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Hilton Head NC at 5:15 pm
- Destination: PTK Pontiac MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.