Robinson R66 accident near Noxen, PA

On July 28, 2013, a Robinson R66 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Noxen, PA. 5 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

July 28, 2013

Place

Noxen, PA

Aircraft

Robinson R66 · Helicopter

Injuries

5 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

41.455°N, 76.092°W

NTSB ID

20130728X45845

Official records · ERA13FA336

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• ATC 3 - Radar Study: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - Google Earth Radar AVP Code 4606 (Data File): Document (KML), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - Google Earth Radar AVP Code 1200 (Data File): Document (KML), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - Transcription of Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - Flight Progress Strip: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 27, 2013, about 2220 eastern daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R66 helicopter N646AG, operated by a private individual, collided with trees and terrain near Noxen, Pennsylvania. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight from Tri-Cities Airport (CZG), Endicott, New York, to Jake Arner Memorial Airport (22N), Lehighton, Pennsylvania. The helicopter was destroyed and the commercial-rated pilot and 4 passengers were fatally injured. The flight originated from CZG about 2151. The flight departed VFR, and at 2153, the non-instrument rated pilot contacted Binghamton Approach Control and advised the controller that the flight had just departed CZG, and was requesting visual flight rules (VFR) flight following. The controller provided the altimeter setting (30.00 inches of Mercury) and asked the pilot the destination and requested altitude, to which he replied 22N, and 3,000 feet msl. A discrete transponder code was assigned (4606), and the flight was radar identified 3 miles southwest of CZG. The flight proceeded in a southwesterly direction flying about 3,000 feet until about 2157, then turned to a south-southeasterly heading while flying between 2,600 and 3,000 feet msl. At 2204, air traffic control communications were transferred to Wilkes-Barre Approach Control; the pilot established contact with that facility advising the controller that the flight was level at 3,000 feet msl. The Wilkes-Barre Approach controller ac

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to continue VFR flight into night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of control.

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Browse: Pennsylvania · Robinson aircraft

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.