# NTSB FTW79FA020: Bell 206B, N59456, Port Oconner, TX, December 1, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 1, 1978
- Place: Port Oconner, TX · PORT OCONNER, TX
- Location: 28.4460° N, 96.4201° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Port O'Connor, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4460&lon=-96.4201&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 30, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138391
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW79FA020
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FA020

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3859   78/12/1 NR.PORT OCONNER,TX    BELL 206B           CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 36, 2739
        TIME - 1818                    N59456              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 183 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ROCKPORT,TX                PORT OCONNER,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - OTHER
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                   UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                      135
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           7                                                       IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- LOW FLT DURING RESTRICTED VIS.WX BRIEF BY OTHER PLT.IMPACTED SAND DUNE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N59456](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59456-1982-03-01), registration cancelled 1982-03-01, S/N 1252 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19781201041609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781201041609A), Dec 1, 1978: Bell 206B1, Port Oconner, TX, Destroyed. Low flt during restricted vis. Wx brief by other plt. Impacted sande.

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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