Hughes 369E accident near Tampa, FL
On January 19, 1995, a Hughes 369E (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Tampa, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 19, 1995
- Place
- Tampa, FL
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369E · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 27.960°N, 82.489°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X02893
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 18, 1995, about 1957 eastern standard time, a Hughes 369E, N4TP, registered to the City Of Tampa Police Department, Tampa, Florida, crashed into Tampa Bay while maneuvering on a public-use flight. The helicopter was destroyed. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The aerial observer drowned, and was located on January 26, 1995. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Tampa International Airport, Tampa, Florida, about 45 minutes before the accident. The Tampa Police Department requested the NTSB to conduct an investigation of the accident on January 23, 1995. Police officers who observed the accident stated they were in the vicinity of the Howard Franklin Bridge conducting a ground search for a drowning victim in Tampa Bay, while the helicopter was conducting an air search. The helicopter was observed to start a left descending turn and continued in the descent until the helicopter collided with the water. The weather conditions were described as very dark to the southeast, light wind, and the only visible horizon was from the light on the Howard Franklin Bridge. Transcripts of recorded communication between Tampa Tower and N4TP, revealed the pilot departed Tampa International Airport down low at 19:12:07, en route to an area just north of the Gandy Bridge, looking for a body in the water. The pilot reported on- site at 19:15:06. At 19:33:03, the pilot requested, and received clearance from Tampa Tower, to work an area down low, north of the Howard Franklin Bridge. There was n
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL AS A RESULT OF BECOMING SPATIALLY DISORIENTED WHILE MANEUVERING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DARK NIGHT WITH NO VISIBLE HORIZON.
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Browse: Florida · Hughes aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
