Aerospatiale AS355F N5777P

Summary

On 17 April 1988 at about 20:09 local time, a Aerospatiale AS355F registered N5777P, operated by Orco Aviation, Inc., was involved in an accident near Cajon, California, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

17 April 1988 at 20:09

Classification

Accident

Location

Cajon, California, United States

Coordinates

34.2503, -117.5406

Aircraft

Aerospatiale AS355F

Registration

N5777P

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Orco Aviation, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Victorville → Loma Linda

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX88FA163

2 people died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING INCLEMENT WX ON AN EMS FLIGHT WITH A NURSE AND PATIENT ONBOARD, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES WHICH WERE SUSPENDED 36 FEET ABOVE A ROAD. CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A RETAINING WALL, CLIPPED THE TOPS OFF SEVERAL TREES AND PLUNGED INTO A 70-FOOT DEEP RAVINE. THE MAIN WRECKAGE CAME TO REST ABOUT 220 FEET FROM THE INITIAL POINT OF IMPACT. THE SOLE SURVIVOR WAS THE PATIENT; HE HAD BEEN STRAPPED ONTO A FULL BODY BOARD. DESPITE THE PILOT'S EXTENSIVE MILITARY & CIVILIAN FLIGHT EXPERIENCE & CONCERN FOR FLIGHT SAFETY, THE OVERRIDING LIFE-SAVING MISSION COUPLED WITH JOB PRESSURES CONTRIBUTED TO HIM DELAYING HIS DECISION TO TURN AROUND. ALSO CONTRIBUTING WAS THE DISPATCHER'S/MANAGEMENT'S FAILURE TO READILY PROVIDE THE PILOT WITH ALTERNATE DESTINATION INSTRUCTIONS UPON THE CLOSURE OF THE PRIMARY DESTINATION'S TRAUMA CENTER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.