Bell 206B accident near Saint Joseph, Illinois, July 17, 2026
On July 17, 2026, a 1974 Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N297CA, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Saint Joseph, Illinois. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 2026
- Place
- Saint Joseph, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B, built 1974 · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N297CA · registry record · serial 1453
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Helicopter Services Of Illinois LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; a few clouds at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from KCMI, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCMI 162353Z 00000KT 10SM FEW032 BKN070 31/23 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP163 T03110233 10322 20294 55007
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N297CA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN26LA264.