Accident · 2013-03-30
What the record says
- Event date
- 2013-03-30
- Event type
- Accident
- Highest injury level
- Fatal injury
- Aircraft
- EUROCOPTER AS350 (N911AA)
- Operating rule
- PUBU
- Operator
- STATE OF ALASKA Operator named in NTSB report
- Operated by (per NTSB report)
- State of Alaska
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in the pilot's spatial disorientation and loss of control. Also causal was the Alaska Department of Public Safety's punitive culture and inadequate safety management, which prevented the organization from identifying and correcting latent deficiencies in risk management and pilot training. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's exceptionally high motivation to complete search and rescue missions, which increased his risk tolerance and adversely affected his decision-making.
Source: NTSB case ANC13GA036Flight crew
Certification and experience as recorded in the NTSB accident database for this event. The NTSB records these facts about the crew's flying history; GroundCheck shows them as filed, without names or identities.
| Role | Certificate | Instrument rating | Age | Medical | Flight hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot pilot flying | Airline transport pilot / Flight instructor / Commercial | Airplane / Helicopter | 55 | Class 2 (2012-08-03) | 10,693 total · 3,350 in this make/model |
Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.