Bell 206B3 N1078V

Summary

On 3 January 1993 at about 22:40 local time, a Bell 206B3 registered N1078V, operated by South Coast Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Ogden, Utah, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 January 1993 at 22:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Ogden, Utah, United States

Coordinates

41.2096, -111.9703

Aircraft

Bell 206B3

Registration

N1078V

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

South Coast Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA93FA048

4 people died.

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.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.