4 fatal · AEROSPATIALE SA365N-1 D · 2008-09-28 · District Heights, MD, USA
Event
NTSB number
MIA08MA203
Event ID
20081001X14522
Type
Accident
Date
2008-09-28
Location
District Heights, MD, USA
Coordinates
38.870834, -76.876663
Injuries
Highest injury
FATL
Fatal
4
Serious
1
Minor
0
Uninjured
0
Total aboard
5
Aircraft
Make
AEROSPATIALE
Model
SA365N-1 D
Registration
N92MD
FAR Part
PUBU
Engines
2
Damage
SUBS
Conditions
Light
NDRK
Weather
IMC
Probable cause
The pilot's attempt to regain visual conditions by performing a rapid descent and his failure to arrest the descent at the minimum descent altitude during a nonprecision approach. Contributing to the accident were (1) the pilot’s limited recent instrument flight experience, (2) the lack of adherence to effective risk management procedures by the Maryland State Police, (3) the pilot’s inadequate assessment of the weather, which led to his decision to accept the flight,, (4) the failure of the Potomac Consolidated Terminal Radar Approach Control (PCT) controller to provide the current Andrews Air Force Base weather observation to the pilot, and (5) the increased workload on the pilot due to inadequate Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control handling by the Ronald Reagan National Airport Tower and PCT controllers.