# Accident 19960210001659A: Bell 206B, Pellston, MI, February 10, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 10, 1996, 13:15 local time
- Place: Pellston, MI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.3604° N, 84.9505° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3604&lon=-84.9505&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2157J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2157J-1997-05-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 609 total, 123 in this make and model, 38 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI96FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96FA088) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960210001659A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

STRUCK TREES AND TERRAIN SCUD RUNNING IN IFR WEATHER. NOT FOUND FOR LENGTHY PERIOD SANS ELT. FROZE TO DEATH. (-23) THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED DURING A COLLISION WITH TREES AND TERRAIN DURING LOW ALTITUDE CRUISE FLIGHT. 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 14 CFR PART 91.207, EMERGENCY LOCATOR TRANSMITTERS, DOES NOT REQUIRE THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TO BE CARRIED ON A HELICOPTER. THE CERTIFICATION OFFICE IN FORT WORTH ADVISED THAT THEY HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION NEEDED FOR A SAFETY RECOMMENDATION TO BE SUBMITTED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI96FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96FA088), Feb 10, 1996: Bell 206B-III (N2157J), Pellston, MI, destroyed, 1 fatal. 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…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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