Agusta A-109-K2 accident near Salt Lake City, UT
On January 11, 2003, an Agusta A-109-K2 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Salt Lake City, UT. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 11, 2003
- Place
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Aircraft
- Agusta A-109-K2 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 40.768°N, 112.011°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030117X00084
Official records · FTW03FA082
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- ATC Statements: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- SLC Tower Ops. Supervisor Position ATC Transcript: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- SLC Local Control East Position ATC Transcript: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- SLC Local Control Center Position ATC Transcript: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Life Flight Communication Center Transcript: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 10, 2003, approximately 2050 mountain standard time, an Agusta A-109-K2 twin-engine helicopter, N601RX, operated as Life Flight 6, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while attempting to maneuver in dense fog near the Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), near Salt Lake City, Utah. The instrument-rated commercial pilot and the flight paramedic were fatally injured, and the flight nurse was seriously injured. The helicopter was owned and operated by IHC (Intermountain Health Care) Health Services, Inc., of Salt Lake City, and doing business as (d.b.a.) IHC Life Flight. Night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight, for which a company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City, at 2032, and was destined for Wendover, Utah, to pick up a patient who had been injured in an auto accident. According to Air Methods (another Salt Lake City air ambulance company), dispatch records, and a written statement provided by the Air Methods pilot, at 1949, a call was received from Tooele County, Utah, police dispatch requesting a helicopter to stand by for a possible medical response flight. Approximately 5 minutes later, an Air Methods flight was dispatched from the University of Utah Medical Center, Salt Lake City, for the medical emergency flight to Wendover. After departure, the Air Methods pilot contacted the SLC air traffic control tower (ATCT) and requested an "I-80 transition low-level west bound to Wendover." SLC AT
Probable cause
The pilot's delayed remedial action and continued flight into known adverse weather conditions which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance with the ground. Contributing factors were the prevailing fog, and the pressure to complete the mission induced by the pilot in command as a result of the air ambulance operation.
More accidents in UT
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Browse: Utah · Agusta 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.
