DeSoto Parish Investigating Helicopter Crash; Confirmed to Involve Shelby County Residents (Update, 5:07pm)

February 16, 2017 - The DeSoto Parish Coroner confirmed today at 5:02pm the remains found in the helicopter wreckage were Terry Bailey, age 54 and Pam Bailey, age 57, both of Center.

Prayers are with the Bailey family and those who their lives have touched.

Survivor and service information will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

Neither individual preferred attention and often Shelby County Today would be told of the good deeds they had done but always proceeded with the phrase 'it's off the record' because that was the condition of the gift. They often tried to give freely and without recognition.


February 15, 2017 - Shelby County Today has received calls from area residents inquiring about a helicopter crash in Louisiana suspected to involve residents of Shelby County. At this time DeSoto Parish Sheriff Captain Richardson could only confirm they are investigating a helicopter crash at Wallace Lake.

Caddo Parish Sheriff's Department is assisting in the investigation and could not confirm any further information.

A FAA press release states, a Bell B429 helicopter with two people aboard crashed under unknown circumstances into Wallace Lake today, about 10 miles southeast of Shreveport. The aircraft is believed to have been flying from Shreveport Downtown Airport to Center, Texas, when the accident occurred.

FAA investigators are on their way to the site and the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation.

The FAA and NTSB do not release the names of pilots or passengers in air accidents. Those will be provided by local officials after relatives have been notified.
 
The tail number of the aircraft has been confirmed as N598PB.

The FAA website indicates the owner of the helicopter matching that tail number is Terry Bailey, and the address for the registration is 1008 Southview Circle in Center, Texas.

Related Story:
Letter to the Editor (Thank You Terry Bailey)

County Judge Remarks on the Dedication of Bailey Family to Shelby County

Center Mayor Issues Statement Regarding Loss of Terry, Pam Bailey

Wreckage Found in Search for Missing Helicopter on Wallace Lake (KSLA)