# NTSB FTW78FA038: Bell 212, N140AL, Galveston, TX, April 4, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 4, 1978
- Place: Galveston, TX · GALVESTON, TX
- Location: 29.3014° N, 94.7978° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Galveston, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3014&lon=-94.7978&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 2, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142704
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW78FA038
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FA038

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0495   78/4/4  NR.GALVESTON,TX       BELL 212            CR-  0  0  2  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 2320                    N140AL              PX-  3  0  1  AIR TAXI-PASSG            49, 15374 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            1215 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GLOMAR JAVA SHIP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SABINE PASS,TX             GALVESTON,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           COPILOT - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT
        FACTOR(S)
           COPILOT - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           TERRAIN - GLASSY WATER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        REMARKS- CO-PILOT STATED ACFT APPEARED HIGHER THAN 200FT INDICATED ON ALT WHILE VSI READ APPROX 1000FT/MIN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N140AL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N140AL-1982-06-03), registration cancelled 1982-06-03, S/N 30683 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 212
- Registry model: [Bell 212](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-212) (registry code 1181420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Glomar Java Ship

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19780404007389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780404007389A), Apr 4, 1978: Bell 212, Galveston, TX, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Co-pilot stated acft appeared higher than 200FT indicated on alt e VSI read approx 1000FT/MIN.

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.

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