Catalina Island Medevac Crash, 2 Dead, 2 Injured, 1 Missing 9/29/26

Kenny Phillips

Kenny Phillips

Final Approach
Joined
Jul 29, 2018
Messages
6,572
Display Name
Kenny Phillips
There was a helicopter that crashed in the Bahamas somewhat similar. LOC black hole and all.
 
For reference: this was N313RX. It departed the Pebbly Beach area just SE of Avalon at about 0245z (7:45p local) and crashed shortly after - last ADS-B ping was at 0246:33z (7:46:33 local). Visibility and ceilings were clear - there was no fog yet (the marine layer came in later in the evening). Sunset was 6:38p local and the moon had not yet risen (moonrise was 8:24p local). All you’d have for visual reference over the water would be the distant lights of the LA metro across the channel, which may have been partially obscured by a layer closer to the mainland, but likely discernable.

I actually think there’s a frame from the nearby fire camera that caught the helicopter either just prior to or during the crash sequence. Disclaimer: this could be another medical helicopter that had departed the same place a few minutes prior, or a boat or something else, but subsequent frames two minutes prior and after show nothing else nearby and this is the exact area and time of the last ADS-B ping.

IMG_9434.jpeg

Edit: adding the METARs from KAVX, but note this is 6.5nm away and 1600’ above Pebbly Beach. With the microclimates on Catalina, it can sometimes be completely different weather than what’s going on near the town of Avalon.

METAR KAVX 010151Z AUTO 34007KT 7SM CLR 21/12 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP081 T02110122 $
METAR KAVX 010251Z AUTO 02006KT 10SM CLR 22/07 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP085 T02220072 53006 $
 
Last edited:
bonefishpete said:
There was a helicopter that crashed in the Bahamas somewhat similar. LOC black hole and all.
Click to expand...
Not really similar. While the Bahama aircraft was well equipped the pilots made many errors to include it was an illegal Part 91 flight. Being Reach is a Part 135 ops, and as I recall all their EC135 helicopters are SPIFR with NVG cockpits, this flight would have been more regimented in its operation vs the Bahamas one.
 
Bell206 said:
Not really similar. While the Bahama aircraft was well equipped the pilots made many errors to include it was an illegal Part 91 flight. Being Reach is a Part 135 ops, and as I recall all their EC135 helicopters are SPIFR with NVG cockpits, this flight would have been more regimented in its operation vs the Bahamas one.
Click to expand...
Your right it was a charter. I would expect those California pilots are well versed in fog and weather flying. No doubt there is more light around Catalina than northern Bahamas also.

So most likely Mechanical?
 
bonefishpete said:
Your right it was a charter.
Click to expand...
It wasn't a charter. It was owned by Cline who went with it to pick up his sick daughter and her friends at his house in the Bahamas. Regardless, no idea on the Reach accident other than since it happened so fast after takeoff can point to a number of possibilites.
 
I’m hearing that the other helicopter that departed just prior to this accident helicopter also hit the water, but recovered and flew to the destination.
 
Two helicopters within a minute of each other? Sounds like a downdraft, created by what I don't know. First guy barely recovered, second guy either wasn't as good or wasn't as lucky. These guys are pros, they do this every day. i could believe one got careless and screwed the pooch, but not two. Draft capable of affecting aircraft can and do happen. I detailed in my travails thread how my airplane would not descend on our final flight. There was an updraft of some kind, powerful enough to keep the Mooney aloft. I'd never before experienced such a thing, but it was there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top