# NTSB CHI81FA062: Bellanca 17-31, N9699E, Hessel, MI, June 5, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: June 5, 1981
- Place: Hessel, MI · HESSEL, MI
- Location: 46.0042° N, 84.4259° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hessel, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0042&lon=-84.4259&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126733
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FA062
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FA062

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1070   81/6/5    HESSEL,MI           BELLANCA 17-31      CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 44, UNK/NR
        TIME - 2315                    N9699E              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HESSEL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PELLSTON,MT                 HESSEL,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: OTHER
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                   UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                           RAIN SHOWERS, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- CRASHED AFTER MAKING LOW APCH TO UNLIGHTED RWY.DARK NGT.TSTM NW OF ARPT.BLOOD/ALCOHOL LVL-162MG/DL
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9699E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9699E-1983-07-22), registration cancelled 1983-07-22, S/N 76-31127 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-31
- Registry model: [Bellanca 17-31ATC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-31atc) (registry code 1220437) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Hessel

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810605035599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810605035599A), Jun 5, 1981: Blanca 1731ATC, Hessel, MI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot was attempting landing on unlighted airport at night with thunderstorms in vicinity. Crashed into trees.

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.

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