WEEK 10
H2F brings you the ‘helicopter mayday of the week’ with a short accident report summary. I tell you what happened. You think more about why it happened. We all learn from it. Because that’s what accident reporting is for.
TITLE
VFR departure into dense fog results in spatial disorientation..
WHAT?
A Bell 206B helicopter departed King Salmon Airport on a positioning flight to transport four passengers to a remote fishing camp. The commercial, instrument-rated pilot requested and received a special visual flight rules (SVFR) clearance to depart to the south. Shortly after takeoff, the helicopter encountered a dense fog bank while flying low over the Naknek River. The pilot lost visual references, became disoriented during an attempted climb, and the helicopter subsequently impacted the river.
WHERE?
Alaska, about 1 nautical mile from the airport of departure in Class D airspace.
WHEN?
September 7, 2024, at approximately 09:24 LT. The NTSB final report was originally published on August 20, 2025.
HOW?
After departing under SVFR clearance, the pilot proceeded southbound over the river. Witnesses reported dense fog conditions, with visibility insufficient to see across the river. The pilot encountered a dense fog bank and lost visual reference with the river surface. He attempted to turn around and then attempted to climb, but became spatially disoriented. Within seconds, the helicopter descended and impacted the water. Post accident examination of the airframe, engine, and flight control systems revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
CONDITIONS?
Meteorological observations from the nearby airport about 30 minutes before the accident reported visibility of 0.25 miles in fog, an indefinite ceiling at 200 ft AGL, temperature and dew point both at 7°C, and light winds. The helicopter was flying low (witnesses estimated less than 100 ft above the water) over calm river conditions, which further reduced surface contrast. The pilot accepted an SVFR clearance despite conditions below basic VFR minima.
OUTCOME?
The helicopter sustained substantial damage. One passenger did not survive, unable to egress the submerged helicopter after being injured. The pilot and three other passengers sustained minor injuries. There was no post-impact fire or explosion.
WHY?
- Pilot’s decision to initiate visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions.
- Encounter with conditions below VFR minima leading to loss of visual references and spatial disorientation.
- Possible visual illusion/disorientation while maneuvering over calm water in dense fog.
- The report does not reference any contributing factors relating to procedural, organisational, cultural aspects of the operator.
REFERENCE?
National Transportation Safety Board. (2025, August 20). Aviation investigation final report: Accident number ANC24FA089 (Bell 206B, N306FW). National Transportation Safety Board. https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195072
https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195072/pdf
https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29232/pdf
https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64316/pdf
https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66303/pdf
Note:
Accident reports selected from the following open source databases: US NTSB; UK AAIB; Flight Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Network; Australia’s ATSB. Ireland’s AAIU; Taiwan’s TTSB; France’s BEA; Spain’s CIAIAC. Germany’s BFU.
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