- Date
- January 11, 1990, 21:50 local (Jan 12, 1990, 03:50 UTC)
- Place
- San Diego, TX
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N15SXBell UH-1B
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report September 4, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900111000479A
- Case key
- 23006
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot intentionally flew into instrument meteorological conditions during night VFR flight, and the helicopter subsequently collided with terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The helicopter was being flown at night in an area where the temperature and dew point were 64 degrees f. the pilot landed several miles west of San Diego, Texas. He said he had landed due to fog and to ask directions to another town, so he could deliver birds for a hunt the next day. He was given directions to another town, but was also told he could leave the helicopter there, and they would take the birds to town to wait for someone to drive in and pick up the birds. The pilot said he thought he could make it to the next town. The helicopter departed, but did not arrive in the next town. Hunters reported hearing a crash seven miles west of the departure point. A search was initiated, but after 2 1/2 hours, the search was stopped due to dense fog. The wreckage was found the next day, approximately 9 miles west of San Diego, Texas. No pre-impact mechanical problems were found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N15SX
- Reported as
- Bell UH-1B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 63-8606
- Airframe hours
- 5,775
- Engine
- Lycoming T531-11, 900 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Coastal Corporation
- Registered owner
- Abco Leasing, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 22, 1989 · 5 hours before
- Departed
- San Diego, TX
- Destination
- Freer, TX
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 12,075 total · 1,840 in this make and model · 8,790 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 130° at 9 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- 100 ft
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ALI, 20 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.