What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Deceased passengers: front left seat privacy data omitted rear left seat privacy data omitted at approximately 01:59 the pilot of N441MG received a weather briefing from the anderson flight service station in anderson, s.c. requesting weather information for a flight from greenville, s.c. to tallahassee, FL. The briefer indicated the weather currently to the IFR south of macon Georgia with marginal conditions in northern Georgia. The briefer added that at approximately 0400 local the weather would be IFR south of atlanta, Georgia. The briefer concluded by saying "VFR not recommended". At approximately 0301 hrs local a duats report was printed which indicated similar weather along the route between greenville, s.c. and tallahassee, FL. (This report was found at the home base of the helicopter involved). At approximately 0425 hrs local, the pilot departed greenville, s.c. as the pilot continued to fly a route from greenville, s.c to tallahassee, FL., he began to encounter lower ceilings and restricted visibility. At approximately 0555 hrs local, over b arnesville, Georgia approximately 30 miles south of atlanta, the helicopter encountered fog and near zero visibility. The aircraft attempted to turn from a southern heading to a northern heading. In doing so, the aircraft descended and crashed. The aircraft struck trees as it descended before striking the ground at the base of a tree. The aircraft burned after impact. The pilot was ejected approximately 50 feet from the wreckage. The two passengers remained in the aircraft. All personnel aboard were fatally injured.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) DECEASED PASSENGERS: FRONT LEFT SEAT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ REAR LEFT SEAT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AT APPROXIMATELY 01:59 THE PILOT OF N441MG RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM THE ANDERSON FLIGHT SERVICE STATION IN ANDERSON, S.C. REQUESTING WEATHER INFORMATION FOR A FLIGHT FROM GREENVILLE, S.C. TO TALLAHASSEE, FL. THE BRIEFER INDICATED THE WEATHER CURRENTLY TO THE IFR SOUTH OF MACON GEORGIA WITH MARGINAL CONDITIONS IN NORTHERN GEORGIA. THE BRIEFER ADDED THAT AT APPROXIMATELY 0400 LOCAL THE WEATHER WOULD BE IFR SOUTH OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA. THE BRIEFER CONCLUDED BY SAYING "VFR NOT RECOMMENDED". AT APPROXIMATELY 0301 HRS LOCAL A DUATS REPORT WAS PRINTED WHICH INDICATED SIMILAR WEATHER ALONG THE ROUTE BETWEEN GREENVILLE, S.C. AND TALLAHASSEE, FL. (THIS REPORT WAS FOUND AT THE HOME BASE OF THE HELICOPTER INVOLVED). AT APPROXIMATELY 0425 HRS LOCAL, THE PILOT DEPARTED GREENVILLE, S.C. AS THE PILOT CONTINUED TO FLY A ROUTE FROM GREENVILLE, S.C TO TALLAHASSEE, FL., HE BEGAN TO ENCOUNTER LOWER CEILINGS AND RESTRICTED VISIBILITY. AT APPROXIMATELY 0555 HRS LOCAL, OVER B ARNESVILLE, GEORGIA APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES SOUTH OF ATLANTA, THE HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERED FOG AND NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY. THE AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED TO TURN FROM A SOUTHERN HEADING TO A NORTHERN HEADING. IN DOING SO, THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED AND CRASHED. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES AS IT DESCENDED BEFORE STRIKING THE GROUND AT THE BASE OF A TREE. THE AIRCRAFT BURNED AFTER IMPACT. THE PILOT WAS EJECTED APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET FROM THE WRECKAGE. THE TWO PASSENGERS REMAINED IN THE AIRCRAFT. ALL PERSONNEL ABOARD WERE FATALLY INJURED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.