Detroit - Pellston

On May 9, 1970 at 09:28 PM, Detroit - Pellston experienced a crash involving Learjet 23, operated by Executive Jet Aviation - USA, with the event recorded near Pellston-Emmet County Michigan.

The flight was categorized as executive/corporate/business and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

6 people were known to be on board, 6 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 4, passenger fatalities: 4, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The approach to Pellston-Emmet County was initiated in limited visibility due to clouds. On final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames few miles short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed, among them Walter Reuther, President of the American Union of Workers in the Automotive Industry.

Aircraft reference details include registration N434EJ, MSN 23-046, year of manufacture 1965.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 45.5528°, -84.7839°.