Bell 206B-III accident near Pellston, MI
On February 10, 1996, a Bell 206B-III (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Pellston, MI. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- February 10, 1996
- Place
- Pellston, MI
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B-III · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 45.360°N, 84.951°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X05222
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On February 10, 1996, at 1315 eastern standard time (est), a Bell 206B III, N2157J, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed during a collision with trees and terrain while flying at a low altitude. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was seriously injured, but succumbed to the cold weather conditions about 18 hours after the accident. The flight departed Harbor Springs, Michigan, at 1215 est. The helicopter was declared missing on February 10, 1996. It was found on February 13, 1996, by the Emmet County, Michigan, Sheriff's Department and members of the Civl Air patrol. An audio witness to the crash said he and a friend were about 1 mile west of the accident site when they heard a metallic crashing sound between 1300 and 1400 est. The witness said they were in a valley and noticed "...that you could see higher above the hills to the west than the hills to the east. From our location the tree tops on the hills to the east were obscured." The witness gave a statement to a Civil Air Patrol (CAP) personnel. The report stated the witness reported "foggy" weather conditions at the time he heard the crashing noise. Another witness, located at the Harbor Springs Airport, Harbor Springs, Michigan, said she observed the helicopter "...on the ground for about 3 minutes and departed to the north at an altitude of about 300 to 400 feet." She said the visibility was 1 to 2 miles. Harbor Springs Airport is about 8 nautical miles south-southwest of th
Probable cause
flight into known adverse weather conditions (fog) at too low an altitude by the pilot. Factors associated with this accident were inadequate preflight planning and an improper inflight decision by the pilot when he chose to continue flight into the fog conditions.
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Browse: Michigan · Bell aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
