# Accident 20031224035189A: Agusta A109, Mendocino, CA, December 24, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 24, 2003, 19:30 local time
- Place: Mendocino, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: JBZA
- Location: 39.2875° N, 123.2775° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2875&lon=-123.2775&mi=10
- Aircraft: N25RX, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25RX-2004-03-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Agusta AGUSTA A109 (registry code 0260109, https://openairdocs.org/model/agusta-agusta-a109) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C28 series (registry code 03022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c28-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AGUSTA A109
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C28
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Pilot flight hours: 12,000 total, 4,600 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04FA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04FA076) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031224035189A

## Narrative

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

(-23) 12-22-03, REACH/MEDIPLANE INC. (JBZA) DEPARTED SANTA ROSA TO WILLITS CA, AT APPROX. 1930 PDT, TO PICK UP A MEDICAL PATIENT. BETWEEN UKIAH AND WILLITS CA, THE CREW REPORTED THE WEATHER WAS DETERIORATING AND THEY MADE A DECISION TO FLY TO UKIAH MUNI CA. THE HELICOPTER CRASHED INTO A HILLSIDE IN THE REDWOOD VALLEY AREA, NORTH OF THE UKIAH MUNI AIR FIELD. THE THREE OCCUPANTS WERE FATALLY INJURED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.

## 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 LAX04FA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04FA076), Dec 24, 2003: Agusta A109A (N25RX), Redwood Valley, CA, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in an inadvertent in-flight encounter with…

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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