Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ogden, Utah 84401
Sunday, January 3, 1993 15:40 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS TRANSPORTING PERSONNEL WITHIN A REMOTE MOUNTAIN VALLEY IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMERCIAL FILMING OF CELEBRITY SKIERS. THE SKIERS HAD BEEN FILMED AS THEY SKIED DOWN A RIDGE, AND WERE BEING FLOWN BACK TO THE TOP OF THE RIDGELINE. DURING THE THIRD GO-AROUND FOLLOWING THREE ATTEMPTS TO LAND ON THE RIDGETOP LANDING SITE, THE HELICOPTER DISAPPEARED INTO A CLOUD BANK AND IMPACTED THE RIDGE AT THE 8,500-FT LEVEL. MEMBERS OF THE PARTY ON THE GROUND DESCRIBED THE AREA AS BEING 'TOTALLY SOCKED IN.' THE BASIC WEATHER SHOWN IN THE ENVIRONMENT/OPERATIONS INFORMATION SECTION WAS THE 1445 0BSERVATION AT OGDEN. OGDEN IS 15 SW OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, AT AN ELEVATION OF 4,470 FT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S CONTINUATION OF VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AND HIS DECISION TO CONTINUE HIS LANDING ATTEMPTS UNDER THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LOW CLOUDS, FOG AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/3/1993
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1540
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City OGDEN
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84401
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1545 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID OGD
Elevation of weather observation facility 4470
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 7430
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 384
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 3 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2045
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 52080
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:07PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1078V
NTSB Number SEA93FA048
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 206B3
Aircraft Series Identifier 206B3
Aircraft Serial Number 2923
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 22 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 4873
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FRED & CHERYL HOESE, DBA
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1077
Aircraft Owner City GRAND LAKE
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80447
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SOUTH COAST HELICOPTERS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 361 PAULARINO
Operator City COSTA MESA
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92626
Operator Code UOSA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --