Bell 206 B3 N37AN

Summary

On 21 December 1990 at about 00:02 local time, a Bell 206 B3 registered N37AN was involved in an accident near St. Marks, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 December 1990 at 00:02

Classification

Accident

Location

St. Marks, Florida, United States

Coordinates

30.1602, -84.2006

Aircraft

Bell 206 B3

Registration

N37AN

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lakeland → Tallahassee

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

MIA91GA050

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SAFE ALTITUDE WHILE DESCENDING OVER A COASTLINE, AT NIGHT, IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A FULL WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE RESULTING IN HIS ENCOUNTER WITH INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT HIS DESTINATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

PILOT DID NOT RECEIVED FULL WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ON CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. ON ARRIVAL AT DEST FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLGICAL CONDITIONS, AS HAD BEEN FORECAST. WHILE DESCENDING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AT NIGHT, OVER COASTLINE TO GET BELOW LOW OVERCAST LAYER OF CLOUDS, PILOT LOST OUTSIDE VISUAL REFERENCE AND ALLOWED THE HELICOPTER TO DESCEND AND CRASH INTO THE WATER. NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OF THE HELICOPTER OR ENGINE WERE NOTED AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.