Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cologne Georgia
Sunday, November 7, 1999

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On November 7, 1999, a Hughes 369D helicopter, N1096C, operated by Good Fabrication of Indianapolis, Indiana, was destroyed at impact near Cologne, Germany. The German Accident Investigation Bureau reports that the aircraft was witnessed flying into low clouds, with the intention of coming out on top. The helicopter was observed coming out of low clouds in an uncontrollable attitude and crashing in a hilly area. Both persons on board, the pilot and a passenger, were fatally injured. The Investigation Bureau also states that the aircraft was on a VFR (visual flight rules) flight in bad weather. It is not yet known whether a flight plan was filed. The U.S.-registered helicopter was manufactured by Hughes Helicopter in 1980. Other records are not yet available. The U.S. Accredited Representative is Thomas R. Conroy, Senior Air Safety Investigator, AS-20, NTSB, Washington, D.C. 20594, tel (202) 314-6314 / fax -6329. For further information, contact the Investigator-in-Charge: Mr. Joerg Schoeneberg Flugunfalluntersuchungsstelle D-3000 Braunschweig, Germany tel. 49 531 3548 500 / fax -246

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/7/1999
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 0
Event Time Zone --
Event City COLOGNE
Event State --
Event Country GEORGIA
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 11
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 Unknown
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Not Reported
Lowest Ceiling Height 300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 0
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 7 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Mar 20 2003 3:30PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1096C
NTSB Number IAD00WA004
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Unknown
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Hughes
Aircraft Model 369D
Aircraft Series Identifier 369D
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 8900 KINGSTONE CROSSING
Operator City INDIANAPOLIS
Operator State IN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 46240
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City UNK
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 22 2001 3:26PM
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 --