What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On October 15, 2004, about 0115 PDT, a Hughes operated by us border patrol collided with the terrain while performing low altitude maneuvers. According to the pilot he was assisting border patrol ground units with a group of illegal aliens in mountainous terrain about 4 miles west of Jacumba. The observer who was not a pilot did not recognize the dangerous terrain as the pilot maneuvered the helicopter in a turning descent. This incident is not related to a NMAC or pilot deviation.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON OCTOBER 15, 2004, ABOUT 0115 PDT, A HUGHES OPERATED BY US BORDER PATROL COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN WHILE PERFORMING LOW ALTITUDE MANEUVERS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT HE WAS ASSISTING BORDER PATROL GROUND UNITS WITH A GROUP OF ILLEGAL ALIENS IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN ABOUT 4 MILES WEST OF JACUMBA. THE OBSERVER WHO WAS NOT A PILOT DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE DANGEROUS TERRAIN AS THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE HELICOPTER IN A TURNING DESCENT. THIS INCIDENT IS NOT RELATED TO A NMAC OR PILOT DEVIATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N6639R · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.