THIS MED-EVAC HELICOPTER WAS BEING POSITIONED TO PICK UP A PATIENT. THE PLT OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING WHICH INCLUDED A FORECAST FOR A CHANCE OF MARGINAL VMC ALONG THE PLANNED ROUTE, ALTHOUGH AT THE TIME OF THE BRIEFING THE DEST WEATHER WAS VMC. THE FLT DEPARTED AT ABOUT SUNDOWN AND THE DEST WX DETERIORATED WHILE THE FLT WAS ENROUTE. WITNESSES NEAR THE ACDT SITE, WHICH WAS 23 NM SE OF THE DEST. REPORTED FREEZING RAIN AND/OR WET SNOW FALLING AS THE HELICOPTER FLEW PAST THEIR RANCHES AT LOW ALT HEADING NW. IT WAS COMPLETELY DARK AT THE TIME OF THE ACDT AND THE AREA WHERE THE ACDT OCCURRED IS SPARSLEY POPULATED PROVIDING FEW GROUND LIGHTS FOR VISUAL REF. THE HELICOPTER CRASHED IN HILLY, SNOW COVERED TERRAIN IN A NEAR VERTICAL, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE AND WAS DESTROYED.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..SNOW

Contributing Factors

PRESSURE INDUCED BY OTHERS..PILOT IN COMMAND

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..RAIN

Contributing Factors

LIGHT CONDITION..DARK NIGHT

Index for Dec1985 | Index of months