# Accident 19910126001099A: Bolkms BK117B1, Sonestown, PA, January 26, 1991

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 26, 1991, 19:48 local time
- Place: Sonestown, PA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: EGRA
- Location: 41.3537° N, 76.5541° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sonestown, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3537&lon=-76.5541&mi=10
- Aircraft: N891GM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N891GM-1991-08-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm BK117 B-1 (registry code 5626033, https://openairdocs.org/model/messerschmitt-bolkow-blohm-bk117-b-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOLKMS BK117B1
- Reported engine: LYC LTP101600A1
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- Pilot flight hours: 3,267 total, 287 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC91FA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91FA067) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910126001099A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FLEW INTO TREES ON A MOUNTAINSIDE AT NIGHT IN A SNOWSHOWER AND DENSE FOG. OPERATIONS CALLS FOR VFR FLIGHT ONLY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC91FA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91FA067), Jan 27, 1991: MBB BK 117 B-1 (N891GM), Sonestown, PA, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING TO ASSURE THAT THE INTENDED COURSE AND ALTITUDE PROVIDED ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE DARK NIGHT, SNOW AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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