# NTSB DCA70AZ008: Lear Jet 23A, N434EJ, Pellston, MI, May 9, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 9, 1970
- Place: Pellston, MI · PELLSTON, MI
- Location: 45.5516° N, 84.7834° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pellston, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5516&lon=-84.7834&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 14, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125165
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA70AZ008
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA70AZ008

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0125   70/5/9    PELLSTON,MICH       LEAR JET 23A        CR-  2  0  0  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 2128                    N434EJ              PX-  4  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            48, 7760 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            2142 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - EMMET COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DETROIT,MICH                PELLSTON,MICH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - OTHER
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- LACK OF VISUAL CUES CAUSED PLT TO MISJUDGE ALT. POSSIBILITY OF ALTIMETER ERROR.CIRCLING VOR APCH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N434EJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N434EJ-1970-10-16), registration cancelled 1970-10-16, S/N 23046, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LEAR JET 23A
- Registry model: [Learjet 23](https://openairdocs.org/model/learjet-23) (registry code 5170102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo jet
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Emmet County

## Other investigations on N434EJ (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 DEN67A0066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN67A0066), Apr 23, 1967: Lear 23 (N434EJ), Spanish Fork, UT, substantial damage

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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