# NTSB FTW90FA051: Bell UH-1B, N15SX, San Diego, TX, January 12, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 11, 1990, 21:50 local (Jan 12, 1990, 03:50 UTC)
- Place: San Diego, TX
- Coordinates: 27.850425, -98.39093 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8504&lon=-98.3909&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 4, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23006
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90FA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23006/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA051

## Probable cause

THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY FLEW INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS DURING NIGHT VFR FLIGHT, AND THE HELICOPTER SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL UH-1B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 63-8606
- Airframe hours: 5775
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 54; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900111000479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900111000479A), Jan 11, 1990: Bell UH1B, San Diego, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Departed to follow highway in dense fog. Lost control en route and crashed.

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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