# NTSB FTW80DRD19: Bell 206B, N16966, Venice, LA, March 11, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: March 11, 1980
- Place: Venice, LA · VENICE, LA
- Location: 29.2931° N, 89.3689° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Venice, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2931&lon=-89.3689&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 16, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132296
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80DRD19
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80DRD19

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0136  80/3/11  NR.VENICE,LA          BELL 206B           CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 32, 5702
        TIME - 1342                    N16966              PX-  0  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 TOTAL HOURS, 2492 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          VENICE,LA                  VENICE,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          FOG                                                      CALM
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PLT STATED LOOKING AT MAP BFR COLLIDING W WATER.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16966](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16966-1980-05-02), registration cancelled 1980-05-02, S/N 2365, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- 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 19800311005649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800311005649A), Mar 11, 1980: Bell 206BELL, Venice, LA, Destroyed. The pilot initiated a descent from 700 feet over water & fog. Was reading a chart & flew into the water.

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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