# NTSB MIA91GA050: Bell 206 B3, N37AN, St. Marks, FL, December 21, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: December 20, 1990, 19:02 local (Dec 21, 1990, 00:02 UTC)
- Place: St. Marks, FL
- Coordinates: 30.160232, -84.200622 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1602&lon=-84.2006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32763
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA91GA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32763/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91GA050

## Probable cause

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SAFE ALTITUDE WHILE DESCENDING OVER A COASTLINE, AT NIGHT, IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A FULL WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE RESULTING IN HIS ENCOUNTER WITH INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT HIS DESTINATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight briefing service - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather forecast - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - weather condition - fog
- Loss of control - in flight, descent
  - light condition - dark night
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
  - descent - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

PILOT DID NOT RECEIVED FULL WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ON CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. ON ARRIVAL AT DEST FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLGICAL CONDITIONS, AS HAD BEEN FORECAST.  WHILE DESCENDING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AT NIGHT, OVER COASTLINE TO GET BELOW LOW OVERCAST LAYER OF CLOUDS, PILOT LOST OUTSIDE VISUAL REFERENCE AND ALLOWED THE HELICOPTER TO DESCEND AND CRASH INTO THE WATER. NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OF THE HELICOPTER OR ENGINE WERE NOTED AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N37AN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N37AN-2013-04-02), registration cancelled 2013-04-02, S/N 3503 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206 B3
- Registry model: [Bell 206B-III](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b-iii) (registry code 1181506) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3503
- Airframe hours: 3511
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Registered owner: Florida Game And Fresh Water
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 17, 1990, 12 hours before
- Departed: LAL, LAKELAND, FL
- Destination: TLH, TALLAHASSEE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,786 total, 920 in this make and model, 2,593 as pilot in command, 95 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TLH, 23 nm away

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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