Last updated: 8 March 2021
| Status: | Final |
| Date: | Saturday 9 May 1970 |
| Time: | 21:28 |
| Type: |  Learjet 23 |
| Operator: | Executive Jet Aviation |
| Registration: | N434EJ |
| C/n / msn: | 23-046 |
| First flight: | |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3530 |
| Engines: | 2 General Electric CJ610-1 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 4,4 km (2.8 mls) SW of Pellston-Emmet County Airport, MI (PLN) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Executive |
| Departure airport: | Detroit-Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, MI (DTW/KDTW), United States of America |
| Pellston-Emmet County Airport, MI (PLN/KPLN), United States of America |
Crashed into trees and caught fire short of the runway; illusions produced by the lack of visual cues during a circling approach over unlighted terrain at night to a runway not equipped with approach lights or other visual approach aids.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Illusions produced by the lack of visual cues during a circling approach over unlighted terrain at night to a runway not equipped with approach lights or other visual approach aids . These illusions, which made the pilot think that he was higher than his true position, were made more acceptable to him because of a strong possibility of an erroneously high indication on his altimeter."
Accident investigation:
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Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Ground
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Detroit-Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, MI to Pellston-Emmet County Airport, MI as the crow flies is 388 km (243 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Detroit-Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, MI to Pellston-Emmet County Airport, MI as the crow flies is 388 km (243 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Learjet 23
