# NTSB MKC89FA043: Bell 206L-1, N119CG, Cape Girardeau, MO, December 22, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 22, 1988, 04:35 local (10:35 UTC)
- Place: Cape Girardeau, MO
- Coordinates: 37.339771, -89.570388 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3398&lon=-89.5704&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34670
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC89FA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34670/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89FA043

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - initiated, pilot in command
  - atc clearance - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - pressure induced by others (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, approach
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER WAS DISPATCHED AT NIGHT ON AN EMERG MED SVC (EMS) FLT FM A HOSPITAL AT CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. PURPOSE OF THEFLT WAS TO TRANSPORT A PATIENT FM A HOSPITAL AT MARION, IL, TO CAPE GIRARDEAU. WX AT CAPE GIRARDEAU DETERIORATED AFTER THE ACFT DEPARTED. DRG VFR FLT BACK TO CAPE GIRARDEAU, THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO LND AT THE DESTN HOSPITAL. THE FLT NURSE COMMENTED THEY WOULD HAVE TO 'GET DOWN' AS THE PATIENT WAS GETTING WORSE. THE PLT ELECTED TO TRACK TO THE CAPE GIRARDEAUARPT BY USING THE ILS COURSE TO SEE IF THE ARPT LIGHTING WOULD HELP HIM TO 'LET DOWN.'  HE STATED THAT WHILE TRACKING INBND & HOLDING 'ABOUT 300 FEET,'  HE NOTICED THE HELICOPTER WAS LEFT OF COURSE. BEFORE THE ACDNT OCCURRED, HE HAD STARTED TO CORRECT BACK TO COURSE, BUT COULDN'T REMEMBER ANYTHING BYD THAT POINT. ALSO, HE RPRTD HE HAD LEFT THE STROBE LIGHT ON & EXPERIENCED FLICKER VERTIGO. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER STRUCK A POWER LINE & CRASHED ON LVL TERRAIN IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE FLT NURSE, THERAPIST & PATIENT WERE FATALLY INJURED IN THE ACDNT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N119CG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N119CG-1990-04-11), registration cancelled 1990-04-11, S/N 45313 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-1
- Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45313
- Airframe hours: 2225
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C28B 535 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Air Evac
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 16, 1988, 4 hours before
- Departed: MARION, IL
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: CGI, Cape Girardeau, runway 10, 6,499 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,890 total, 160 in this make and model, 3,400 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CGI, 4 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 19881222057719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881222057719A), Dec 22, 1988: Bell 206L1, Cape Girardeau, MO, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Tried to find airport in dense fog by using the ILS. Neglected to turn off strobe. Got vertigo 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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