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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

January 12, 1990 · Bell UH-1B · N15SX

San Diego, TX

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 12, 1990
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
San Diego, TX
Aircraft
Bell UH-1B
Tail Number
N15SX
Operator
Coastal
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW90FA051

The helicopter was being flown at night in an area where the temperature and dew point were 64 degrees F. The pilot landed several miles west of San Diego, Texas. He said he had landed due to fog and to ask directions to another town, so he could deliver birds for a hunt the next day. He was given directions to another town, but was also told he could leave the helicopter there, and they would take the birds to town to wait for someone to drive in and pick up the birds. The pilot said he thought he could make it to the next town. The helicopter departed, but did not arrive in the next town. Hunters reported hearing a crash seven miles west of the departure point. A search was initiated, but after 2 1/2 hours, the search was stopped due to dense fog. The wreckage was found the next day, approximately 9 miles west of San Diego, Texas. No pre-impact mechanical problems were found.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY FLEW INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS DURING NIGHT VFR FLIGHT, AND THE HELICOPTER SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN.

Full Narrative

THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING FLOWN AT NIGHT IN AN AREA WHERE THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE 64 DEGREES F. THE PILOT LANDED SEVERAL MILES WEST OF SAN DIEGO, TEXAS. HE SAID HE HAD LANDED DUE TO FOG AND TO ASK DIRECTIONS TO ANOTHER TOWN, SO HE COULD DELIVER BIRDS FOR A HUNT THE NEXT DAY. HE WAS GIVEN DIRECTIONS TO ANOTHER TOWN, BUT WAS ALSO TOLD HE COULD LEAVE THE HELICOPTER THERE, AND THEY WOULD TAKE THE BIRDS TO TOWN TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO DRIVE IN AND PICK UP THE BIRDS. THE PILOT SAID HE THOUGHT HE COULD MAKE IT TO THE NEXT TOWN. THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED, BUT DID NOT ARRIVE IN THE NEXT TOWN. HUNTERS REPORTED HEARING A CRASH SEVEN MILES WEST OF THE DEPARTURE POINT. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED, BUT AFTER 2 1/2 HOURS, THE SEARCH WAS STOPPED DUE TO DENSE FOG. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND THE NEXT DAY, APPROXIMATELY 9 MILES WEST OF SAN DIEGO, TEXAS. NO PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE FOUND.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:50 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell UH-1B
Tail NumberN15SX
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorCoastal
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsLycoming · T531-11 · Turboshaft · 900
Seats9

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 54 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind130° @ 9 kt
Ceiling100 ft
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 64 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time04:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data