Cessna P210N accident near Amery, Wisconsin, September 23, 1998
On September 23, 1998, a Cessna P210N, registered N5245A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Amery, Wisconsin (Amery Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to fatigue failure of the crankshaft from frictional heating for undetermined reasons. A related factor was the unsuitable terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1998
- Place
- Amery, Wisconsin · Amery Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5245A · no longer on the register · serial P21000839
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During initial climb the engine lost power. The pilot conducted a forced landing in a field and the airplane was substantially damaged. Subsequent to the accident an examination of the engine revealed a fractured crankshaft. The engine, including the original crankshaft had accumulated 1,080 hours time in service at the time of failure. The FAA verified that the crankshaft was not the subject of an Airworthiness Directive. The logbooks showed no indication of sudden stoppage during the service life of the engine. Examination of the crankshaft revealed a fatigue failure consistent with friction heating fatigue.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,651 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 4,424 as pilot in command; 1,155 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,080 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-CF (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AHH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,001 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.