Rock N Roll Express Yourself

Stevie Ray Vaugh

ACCIDENT REPORT

This is a copy of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report on the helicopter crash that killed Stevie Ray Vaughan and four others. The original may be found at:

http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X23968&key=1

Thanks to Ken Phillips Jr. (phillipsscientific@zoomtown.com) for this link.

NTSB Identification: CHI90MA244 . The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 43569.

Nonscheduled 14 CFRPart 135 operation of Air Taxi & Commuter OMNIFLIGHT HELICOPTERS Accident occurred Monday, August 27, 1990 at ELKHORN, WI
Aircraft:BELL 206B, registration: N16933
Injuries: 5 Fatal.

FOUR HELICOPTERS WERE BEING USED AT NIGHT TO TRANSPORT A CONCERT
GROUP FROM A GOLF COURSE AREA NEAR ELKHORN, WI, TO CHICAGO, IL. AS THE
THIRD HELICOPTER (N16933) WAS DEPARTING, IT REMAINED AT A LOWER
ALTITUDE THAN THE OTHERS, AND THE PILOT TURNED SOUTHEASTERLY TOWARD
RISING TERRAIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER CRASHED ON HILLY TERRAIN
ABOUT 3/5 MI FROM THE TAKEOFF POINT. ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS
HILL. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE
INVESTIGATION. PILOTS OF THE OTHER HELICOPTERS REPORTED VFR FLIGHT
CONDITIONS WITH SOME FOG. A GROUND WITNESS NEAR THE CRASH SITE REPORTED
HAZE AND GROUND FOG OF VARYING INTENSITY WITH PATCHES OF LOW CLOUDS,
BUT SAID STARS COULD BE SEEN THROUGH THE FOG.

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

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN
ADEQUATE ALTITUDE BEFORE FLYING OVER RISING TERRAIN AT NIGHT. FACTORS
RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, FOG, HAZE, RISING TERRAIN, AND
THE LACK OF VISUAL CUES THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO THE PILOT.

Published on: 2005-08-28 (1825 reads)

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