Cessna 421A accident near Tomahawk, Wisconsin, November 7, 1997
On November 7, 1997 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Cessna 421A, registered N2957Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tomahawk, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the elevator trim tab bolt backed out, allowing the trim tab to flutter, and destroy the elevator. The factors involved were improper annual inspection by the maintenance personnel, and the inadequate aircraft preflight done by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 7, 1997 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Tomahawk, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421A · all 421As on the register
- Registration
- N2957Q · registry record · serial 421A00057
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On climb out at 11,000 feet at 700 feet per minute rate of climb on autopilot, the pilot heard a loud bang and felt a 'rapid vibration in the control yoke.' The pilot reported pitch trim was not available and said he checked the engines for proper operations. The flight landed without further incident. Examination of the aircraft revealed substantial damage to the right elevator and trim tab. The rear trim tab linkage bolt was missing and there was little damage to the yoke or trim tab bushing. Paint transfer marks were found on the trim tab from the elevator. An undersized cotter pin was found in the forward linkage bolt.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 28,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 26,000 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 1997
- Maximum gross weight: 6,840 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTISO 520H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WI46 at 10:00 pm
- Destination: C77 Poplar Grove IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from AUW, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.