# Accident 19990916029681A: Ccoptr TOMCATMK5A, Heflin, AL, September 16, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 16, 1999, 07:30 local time - Place: Heflin, AL - Damage: Destroyed - Collision: Midair collision, first aircraft - Phase of flight: Low Level Operations - Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137) - Location: 33.6405° N, 85.5804° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6405&lon=-85.5804&mi=10 - Aircraft: N9010T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9010T-2000-06-02) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A (registry code 2390101, https://openairdocs.org/model/continental-copters-tomcat-mk5a) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CCOPTR TOMCATMK5A - Reported engine: LYC VO435A1F - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 1 - Pilot flight hours: 26,000 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL99FA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99FA132) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990916029681A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1999, ABOUT 0730 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A CONTINENTAL COPTERS, INC., TOMCAT MK5A, N9010T, AND A TEXAS HELICOPTERS CORP., OH-13E/M74, N38099, COLLIDED IN FLIGHT, OVER A FIELD IN HEFLIN, ALABAMA. BOTH HELICOPTERS WERE REGISTERED TO GULF HELICOPTERS, INC., AND OPERATED BY THE COMMERCIAL PILOTS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 137, AND VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLANS WERE FILED. THE PILOTS OF BOTH HELICOPTERS RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES, AND BOTH HELICOPTERS WERE DESTROYED. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, N38099 WAS FLYING SOUTH BOUND ABOUT 150 ABOVE THE GROUND SPRAYING HERBICIDES. N9010T, HAD JUST TAKEN OFF FROM A FLATBED TRUCK HEADING NORTH BEHIND A STAND OF TREES ABOUT 100 FEET TALL. WITNESSES SAID THEY SAW N9010T CLIMB OVER THE STAND OF TREES TO ABOUT 150 FEET AND TURN EAST INTO THE SUN. WITHIN SECONDS BOTH HELICOPTERS COLLIDED AND FELL TO THE GROUND. WITNESSES STATED THAT THEY DID NOT OBSERVE EITHER HELICOPTER TAKE ANY EVASIVE ACTION. (-23) ON SEPTMEBER 16, 1000 AT 0753 CDT, JOHN E. CUTTS TOOK OFF IN HIS CCOPTER-OH13E HELICOPTER, N9010T, FROM HIS AGRICULTURAL BASE NEXT TO STATE ROAD 66 IN CLEBURNE COUNTY, AL., TO CONDUCT AGRICULTURAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS. THE FIELD HE WAS TO SPRAY WAS EAST OF HIS LOCATION AND HE DEPARTED EASTBOUND INTO THE MORNING SUN. AT THAT TIME, ANOTHER HELICOPTER, A TEXHEL-OH13E, N38099, PILOTED BY RALPH MATTHEW WILLIAMS WAS IN THE PROCESS OF SPRAYING AN ADJACENT FIELD FROM NORTH TO SOUTH. THE FLIGHT PATH OF N9010T TOOK HIM OVER A RIDGE LINE THAT RAN NORTH TO SOUTH WITH HIGH TREES ON THE WEST SIDE. UPON PASSING OVER THE TREES, N9010T FLEW DIRECTLY INTO THE PATH OF N38099 AND A MID AIR COLLISION ENSUED. BOTH HELICOPTERS RECEIVED MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AND CRASHED. THE HELICOPTERS CAME TO REST APPROX. 100 YARDS APAR, AND BOTH PILOTS WERE FATALLY INJURED. (-4)N38099 WAS FLYING SOUTHBOUND AT 150 FT. AGL SPRAYING HERBICIDES. N9010T HAD JUST TAKEN OFF FROM A FLATBED TRUCK HEADING NORTH BEHIND A GATHERING OF TREES 100 FT. TALL. N9010T CLIMB OVER THE TREES TO AN ALTITUDE OF 150 FT. AT A SPEED OF 35 MPH. HE THEN TURNED EAST INTO THE SUN, DIRECTLY INTO THE FLIGHT PATH OF N38099. WITHIN SECONDS, N9010T COLLIDED WITH N38099, IMPACTING IT ON ITS LOWER RIGHT SIDE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER IMPACTING, BOTH HELICOPTERS DESCENDED TO THE GROUND AND CAME TO REST 100 YARDS APART. ## Other aircraft in the event - N38099, Bell OH13EM74: [Accident 19990916029682A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990916029682A) ## 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 ATL99FA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99FA132), Sep 16, 1999: Continental Copters Tomcat MK5A (N9010T), Heflin, AL, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot of N9010T's failure to maintain visual lookout while maneuvering, resulting in a midair collision with N30899. A factor was the sun glare. ## Other reports on N9010T (4) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19910918041749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910918041749A), Sep 18, 1991: Ccoptr TOMCATMK5A (N9010T), Bay Springs, MS, Substantial damage. Reported power loss. Hit trees on autorotation causing hard landing. Rotors hit tailboom. Cause power loss unknown. - [Incident 19830731047659I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830731047659I), Jul 31, 1983: Bell OH13HMK5A (N9010T), Parkersburg, IA, Minor damage. Struck a wire while pollinating corn. Landed to check damage. - [Accident 19770901025749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770901025749A), Sep 1, 1977: Ccoptr OH13HMK5B (N9010T), Monrovia, IN, Substantial damage. Hit powerline. - [Accident 19770506023029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770506023029A), May 6, 1977: Bell 47G2 (N9010T), Russiaville, IN, Substantial damage. Spraying corn. Pilot able to stop acft turning before touchdown. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.