Cessna 210N accident near Highland, Michigan, January 21, 1997
On January 21, 1997 at about 11:07 pm local time, a Cessna 210N, registered N29WW, was destroyed in an accident near Highland, 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
in-flight breakup of the airplane for undetermined reason(s).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 1997 · about 11:07 pm local time
- Place
- Highland, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210N · all 210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N29WW · registry record · serial 21063308
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
At 1755 local time, two instrument rated pilots departed on a night flight from Troy, MI, to Oshkosh, WI. At 1801, they were cleared to climb from 3,000 to 5,000 feet. About 6 minutes later, while cruising about 4 miles south-southwest of Pontiac, MI, radio and radar contact with the airplane were lost. A search was initiated, and wreckage of the airplane was found in the vicinity (near Highland, MI). Investigation determined that the outboard twelve feet of the right wing, and portions of the right elevator and right elevator trim tab separated from the airplane in-flight. Examination of the airframe, engine, and components failed to reveal preexistent anomalies. Weather forecasts and reports indicated turbulence, and temperatures above freezing at the cruising altitude. No preexisting pathology or toxicological findings were found that would have had an effect on the pilots' performance.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,028 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 1996; 219 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-ACL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TD2 Troy MI at 10:55 pm
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:15 pm from PTK, 4 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.
Other NTSB records under N29WW the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.