# NTSB NYC79FA036: Bell 206B, N70RB, Sipesville, PA, April 4, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 4, 1979
- Place: Sipesville, PA · SIPESVILLE, PA
- Location: 40.0992° N, 79.0911° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sipesville, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0992&lon=-79.0911&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 26, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137208
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC79FA036
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC79FA036

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1977   79/4/4    SIPESVILLE,PA       BELL 206B           CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 35, 172
        TIME - 1330                    N70RB               PX-  2  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LATROBE,PA                  HOLSOPPLE,PA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           TURBULENCE                                               IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      36
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          150                                                       6
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 4/05/79.DPTD LATROBE ARPT,PEAK WIND GUSTS 56KTS. REPORTED SEVERE TURB IN AREA.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N70RB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70RB-1982-09-30), registration cancelled 1982-09-30, S/N 1737 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- 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 19790404016159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790404016159A), Apr 4, 1979: Bell 206B, Sipesville, PA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. VFR helicopter plt proceeded into mountainous terrain with clouds obscuring ridges. No weather brief, hit mountain.

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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