Bell OH-58C accident near Watertown, WI
On August 19, 2000, a Bell OH-58C (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Watertown, WI. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 19, 2000
- Place
- Watertown, WI
- Aircraft
- Bell OH-58C · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 43.189°N, 88.721°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X21657
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 17, 2000, at 2141 central daylight time, a Bell OH-58C, N626SF, operated by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department, was destroyed on impact with terrain. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 public use flight was not operating on a flight plan. The commercial pilot and observer sustained fatal injuries. The flight departed from Baraboo, Wisconsin en route to Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, at approximately 2115. A witness reported the following: "I could hear a helicopter close by and me and my friend ... were watching it the entire time. I saw it all of a sudden not flying smoothly and start nose diving down at a very fast speed. We heard a boom. The others didn't believe me and so we went out to look for it. We got 2 miles and didn't see any flames..." The witness also stated that weather conditions were foggy. A witness statement taken by the Dodge Country Sheriff stated the following: "...It sounded extremely close and low. He went outside and he could hear the helicopter very clearly. He told me that they have numerous military helicopters that fly over his residence and this one sounded like it was beating air and going nowhere. He told me that he never actually saw the helicopter, but he saw that it was using a powerful like landing light. I asked him if it could possibly have been a search light, and he said it could have been. He said the light was so bright it lit up the entire hillside. he was pointing to the hillside that was directly east of his residence, which would have been appro
Probable cause
The spatial disorientation by the pilot during continued flight into instrument conditions and the inadequate surveillance by the operator. The inoperative attitude indicator and night conditions were contributing factors.
More accidents in WI
- Douglas DC-9-14, Sep 6, 1985
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Browse: Wisconsin · Bell 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.
