Eurocopter EC120B accident near Boonville, MO
On June 26, 2003, an Eurocopter EC120B (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Boonville, MO. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 26, 2003
- Place
- Boonville, MO
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter EC120B · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.778°N, 92.696°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030702X01008
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 25, 2003, about 2245 central daylight time, a Eurocopter EC120B, N298HS, was destroyed during impact with terrain near Boonville, Missouri. The helicopter was operating at night in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The private pilot was fatally injured. The flight departed Jesse Viertel Memorial Airport (VER), Boonville, Missouri, around 2230 with the intended destination of Grand Glaize/Osage Beach Airport (K15), Osage Beach, Missouri. The pilot had several telephone conversations with his wife and son prior to departing on the accident flight, according to the pilot's wife. At 2050, the pilot left his wife two phone messages stating that he landed at VER due to deteriorating weather conditions encountered along his route of flight. At 2100 and 2113, the pilot spoke with his son concerning the weather radar and a possible "clean break" between two lines of thunderstorms. At 2125, the pilot spoke with his wife and reiterated that he landed at VER due to deteriorating weather conditions and that he was watching the weather radar. At 2210, the pilot told his wife that he thought there was a possible "clean break" between the two lines of thunderstorms. At 2224, the pilot told his wife that he had been watching the weather radar with the airport manager and it appeared there was a "window" in the weather. The airport manager and the pilot both agreed that there was a suitable opening between the two lines of thunderst
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation which resulted in his inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions. An additional cause was the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain. The dark night, thunderstorms, rain and lack of instrument rating were contributing factors.
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Browse: Missouri · Eurocopter 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.
