Bell 407 accident near Pyote, TX
On March 21, 2004, a Bell 407 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Pyote, TX. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 21, 2004
- Place
- Pyote, TX
- Aircraft
- Bell 407 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 31.399°N, 103.126°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040325X00375
Official records · FTW04FA097
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 21, 2004, approximately 0216 central standard time, a Bell 407 air ambulance helicopter, N502MT, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering in reduced visibility conditions near Pyote, Texas. The instrument-rated commercial pilot, a flight paramedic, an infant patient, and a passenger sustained fatal injuries, and a flight nurse sustained serious injuries. The single-engine helicopter was owned and operated by Med-Trans Corporation (MTC), of Bismarck, North Dakota, and doing business as CareStar, Odessa, Texas. Night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed throughout the area for the Title 14 Code of Regulations Part 135 on-demand air ambulance flight for which a company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Big Bend Regional Medical Center, near Alpine, Texas, approximately 0139 to transfer the patient to the University Medical Center (UMC), near Lubbock, Texas. According to MTC personnel, the pilot reported for duty approximately 2000, March 20, 2004, at the base hangar at the Odessa-Schlemeyer Field (ODO), near Odessa, Texas, and was relieving the base chief pilot. Approximately 2200, the base chief pilot informed the accident pilot via a telephone call that there was weather in the area and to be careful on any possible flights. He advised the accident pilot to move the helicopter into the hangar due to weather, and that there was a pending pediatric flight. At 2330, the medical staff requested, through dispatch personnel that an infant patient be transfered from Alpine to Lu
Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent encounter with adverse weather, which resulted in the pilot failing to maintain terrain clearance. Contributing factors were the dark night conditions, the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation and planning, and the pressure to complete the mission induced by the pilot as a result of the nature of the EMS mission.
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Browse: Texas · 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.
