Bell B-47G2A N8495E

Summary

On 24 June 1990 at about 07:30 local time, a Bell B-47G2A registered N8495E, operated by James Gilmore, was involved in an accident near Dutch Harbor, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 June 1990 at 07:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Dutch Harbor, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

53.8891, -166.5409

Aircraft

Bell B-47G2A

Registration

N8495E

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

James Gilmore

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cold Bay → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

ANC90LA095

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT IN COMMANDS CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE WHILE MANUEVERING TO AVOID TERRAIN.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING WHICH RECOMMENDED AGAINST VFR FLIGHT. HE DEPARTED FOR HIS DESTINATION AND ACTIVATED HIS FLIGHT PLAN. THE FLIGHT SERVICE STATION WITH WHICH HE ACTIVATED HIS FLIGHT PLAN CLOSED PRIOR TO N8495E REACHING ITS DESTINATION, BUT THE FLIGHT INFORMATION WAS PASSED ON TO KING SALMON FLIGHT SERVICE STATION. THE AIR TRAFFIC SPECIALIST AT KING SALMON FAILED TO 'SUSPENSE' THE FLIGHT INFORMATION ON N8495E. THIS RESULTED IN THE LACK OF ANY OVERDUE AIRCRAFT REPORT OR SEARCH AND RESCUE. MEANWHILE, N8495E WAS OPERATING IN THE VICINITY OF THE DUTCH HARBOR AIRPORT WHILE IN HEAVY FOG. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND SAW A CLIFF APPEAR IN FRONT OF THE HELICOPTER AND HE VEERED AWAY AND ANOTHER CLIFF APPEAR AND AS HE VEERED AWAY AGAIN THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE WATER AND SANK.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.