R66 fatal, Georgia, 5/29

The article says no injuries or fatalities are known. Where's your information coming from?

I really, truly hope this isn't another NASCAR family tragedy. Dawsonville is where the Elliott family still resides and has a private field. Chase commutes from that field to wherever he needs to be routinely. Most of the Elliott family are pilots.
 
So unfortunate given the overall circumstances. The crash site is just a few miles directly south of the Elliott family airfield. Thank you for sharing the additional report.
 
KCNI is 14 mi SW of the accident location.

METAR KCNI 300255Z AUTO 15003KT 2SM BR OVC005 21/ A3002 RMK AO2 VIS 1 1/4V3 1/2 LTG DSNT S
METAR KCNI 300235Z AUTO 17004KT 4SM -RA BR SCT014 SCT055 BKN110 21/21 A3002 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N
METAR KCNI 300215Z AUTO 19004KT 3SM -RA BR SCT055 SCT065 OVC100 21/21 A3002 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N AND S
METAR KCNI 300155Z AUTO 21003KT 2SM RA BR SCT075 OVC100 21/21 A3002 RMK AO2 VIS 1 1/2V3 1/2 LTG DSNT NE
METAR KCNI 300135Z AUTO 21005KT 5SM RA BR SCT007 SCT018 OVC110 21/21 A3002 RMK AO2
METAR KCNI 300115Z AUTO 22006KT 4SM TSRA BR BKN005 BKN009 OVC036 22/22 A3002 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SE AND S

KGVL is 23 mi SE of the accident location.

SPECI KGVL 300235Z AUTO 15005KT 3SM -RA BR BKN003 BKN055 OVC110 21/20 A3003 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N AND NW
SPECI KGVL 300217Z AUTO 15004KT 2 1/2SM -RA BR BKN003 BKN050 OVC100 21/21 A3003 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N
SPECI KGVL 300207Z AUTO VRB03KT 3SM -RA BR FEW005 BKN090 OVC110 21/20 A3003 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW
SPECI KGVL 300201Z AUTO 16005KT 2 1/2SM VCTS -RA BR FEW005 BKN095 OVC110 21/20 A3002 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW
METAR KGVL 300153Z AUTO VRB05KT 2SM VCTS RA BR FEW050 BKN090 OVC110 21/20 A3002 RMK AO2
SPECI KGVL 300145Z AUTO VRB04KT 2 1/2SM VCTS RA BR FEW009 BKN095 OVC110 21/20 A3002 RMK AO2
SPECI KGVL 300137Z AUTO VRB05KT 2 1/2SM VCTS RA BR FEW011 BKN075 OVC090 21/20 A3002 RMK AO2
SPECI KGVL 300129Z AUTO 16004KT 2 1/2SM RA BR FEW007 BKN025 OVC080 21/21 A3002 RMK AO2
 
‘The perfect wedding:’ Parents of groom killed in helicopter crash reflect on his life

The two were to leave the venue [The Revere] in a helicopter and fly to Peachtree-DeKalb airport, then spend the night in a downtown Atlanta hotel. George said the wedding reception wrapped up around 9:30, and the weather had turned foggy and rainy. He said his son, who was a pilot for Delta [FO for Endeavor and groom], expressed concern about the limited visibility.

“He said I wouldn’t fly, we would not fly in this visibility,” George said.

But the pilot decided to fly at a higher altitude, he said, and the helicopter launched. A short time later, it crashed in a densely wooded and mountainous area southwest of Dawsonville.
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Such sad news. Sometimes you gotta trust your gut.
 
For situational awareness:

I don’t know from where they departed, but the arrow is about where the crash occurred.

Ah, edit - another article says they departed from “The Revere”, which is 8-9 miles to the north of the crash site. I updated the pictures to reflect the flight path.

IMG_8402.jpeg

IMG_8401.jpeg
 
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……He said his son, who was a pilot for Delta [FO for Endeavor and groom], expressed concern about the limited visibility.

“He said I wouldn’t fly, we would not fly in this visibility,” George said…….

Holy moly, then why did he get in the helicopter?
 
AquaLand said:
Departure location was the wedding venue, The Revere, about 8 nm due north of the crash location.
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Yeah, I read the other article and updated the pictures to show the approximate start and end of the flight.
 
In 2026, with all the tools available to us, I can’t understand why people still head into clearly adverse weather. I mean, I know the common reasons, get-there-itis one of the most prevalent, but looking at the big picture on this one, there are just so many red flags.
 
GoFly said:
……He said his son, who was a pilot for Delta [FO for Endeavor and groom], expressed concern about the limited visibility.

“He said I wouldn’t fly, we would not fly in this visibility,” George said…….

Holy moly, then why did he get in the helicopter?
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To me it’s less about the specific visibility, it’s moreso the storms. Focusing on visibility is tunnel vision (pun not intended). What’s in the area that’s causing the low visibility, or what other kinds of conditions might such humid air contribute to? It doesn’t look like there was even an attempt to find a better path, just went straight into a moderate to heavy precip cell. Yeah, internet radar delay and all that, but that area was even worse in the 15-30 minutes prior.
 
Probably good advice when reaching part 121 employment don’t fly on anything that’s not part 121.
 
ateamer said:
I’ll pass that on to all of our Part 121 neighbors who spend their days off flying antiques and homebuilts.
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Actually had a United 747 Captain tell me that. He wouldn’t fly any plane except company because he was afraid of crashes or violations that would ground him.
 
bonefishpete said:
Actually had a United 747 Captain tell me that. He wouldn’t fly any plane except company because he was afraid of crashes or violations that would ground him.
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Flying an airliner helps with IMC flying and IFR procedures. But is poor training for flying an underpowered small GA aircraft in the real world. A small GA pilot is both the left and right seat pilot, weatherman, dispatcher, ground crew, and flight attendant.

So being an airline pilot is no better preparation than than saying the experience of a perfect safety record million mile bus driver translates well to controlling an overpowered dirt track racer just because they both have tires. Or vice versa. I’ve flown with quite a few airline pilots, and they’re good on the stick, but when it comes to managing a complex IFR flight completely from the ground up, it is a different set of skills needed

The sound bite on this paper, are that airline pilots have fewer loss of control accidents in low visibility, better air, speed control, but have increased FAR violations, increased events where Weather briefing was inadequate, or skipped, and intentionally operating in instrument conditions without an IFR flight plan. There are also increased accidents close to the ground, and increased landing and ground handling accidents. So a mixed bag. So just because somebody has 20,000 hours on auto pilot at flight level 340, doesn’t mean that they’re ready to fill the bonanza embark on a Long Cross country flight in Weather. NTSB reports are too full of ATP’s exhibiting really bad judgment.

 
Pilot identified. Ratings listed as commercial/helicopter/instrument. Company website lists operating weather minimums as 6/600.
 
Flying Keys said:
In 2026, with all the tools available to us, I can’t understand why people still head into clearly adverse weather. I mean, I know the common reasons, get-there-itis one of the most prevalent, but looking at the big picture on this one, there are just so many red flags.
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I can get a good idea of local radar conditions from the ground in 45 seconds on AccuWeather. It sounds crazily simplistic, but it's true.

Perhaps the groom deferred to the judgement of the helicopter pilot. Perhaps he and the bride wanted the impressive departure from the venue more than common sense dictated.

I like to think I'm not vulnerable to either of those.
 
The senselessness of this is infuriating. The family sounds close. I agree with deference to the older pilot, too. The groom was 25 if I remember it right. It's one thing to be respectful of older more experienced people, especially when they're telling you to be cautious. But if that old/older person is telling you they're going to do something that your gut says isn't quite right, stay on the damn ground.

I hate rules and regulations, I really do, but this kind of thing makes me want to wave a wand and say no civilian air taxi/sight seeing/charters without clear skies.
 
The accident pilot was not much older…

I hate to say this but it was also a loss of common sense on behalf of the passenger, who has pilot and CFI credentials. It is just one quick glance on any kind of weather app to determine that the WX was not flyable.
 

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Thinking from the names both pilots may of knew of each other. Could of played a part.
 
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Ed Haywood said:
How about after a few glasses of champagne?
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I was in a similar situation, but made the go/no-go decision way early, and stuck with it. Pretty much it went like "unless it's severe VFR, we're not doing this". Really surprised an FO couldn't make a similar decision and stick with it.
 
I have zero sympathy for these pilot/ pilot passengers. Flying into stormy weather.........

I bet the pilot told his passengers that everything will be alright and pressured them into going anyway. Now, it also could be the passenger pressured the pilot to fly since it was a special day.

We shall see.
 
The helicopter was certainly paid for up front.

Hate to throw away good money and drive a car.........
 
Flying Keys said:
And sitting overnight at a remote location, which can put some pressure on things.
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Doesn’t appear to have been an RON. ADS-B data shows N4488H departing KPDK at around 0105Z (2105 EDT) and landing at the wedding venue at around 0130Z. Departed venue at 0145Z with last data point at 0150Z, just north of reported crash location.

Having just flown through the weather on the route from PDK may have given the pilot (false) confidence to make the nearly immediate return trip.
 
Ed Haywood said:
How about after a few glasses of champagne?
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In this particular circumstance?

George said the wedding reception wrapped up around 9:30, and the weather had turned foggy and rainy. He said his son, who was a pilot for Delta [FO for Endeavor and groom], expressed concern about the limited visibility.

Night helicopter VFR in those conditions? Hell. No.
 
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AquaLand said:
Doesn’t appear to have been an RON. ADS-B data shows N4488H departing KPDK at around 0105Z (2105 EDT) and landing at the wedding venue at around 0130Z. Departed venue at 0145Z with last data point at 0150Z, just north of reported crash location.

Having just flown through the weather on the route from PDK may have given the pilot (false) confidence to make the nearly immediate return trip.
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I think @Flying Keys point was that the pilot was pressured to return to avoid having to RON the aircraft. Although your point about having just flown through it to get is probably accurate. I made it in I can make it out. Discounting the fact I'm guessing this was close to twilight, so lighting conditions were probably worsening, as the weather could have been too.
 
3393RP said:
In this particular circumstance?

George said the wedding reception wrapped up around 9:30, and the weather had turned foggy and rainy. He said his son, who was a pilot for Delta [FO for Endeavor and groom], expressed concern about the limited visibility.

Night helicopter VFR in those conditions? Hell. No.
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Do you know it was VFR?
 
FlightmechH3 said:
I have zero sympathy for these pilot/ pilot passengers. Flying into stormy weather.........

I bet the pilot told his passengers that everything will be alright and pressured them into going anyway. Now, it also could be the passenger pressured the pilot to fly since it was a special day.

We shall see.
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But for sure someone's to blame. Definitely not mechanical, right?
 
AquaLand said:
Pilot identified. Ratings listed as commercial/helicopter/instrument. Company website lists operating weather minimums as 6/600.
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Special VFR is below his company minimums, so he departed, scud running and in violation of those minimums, which had given the company decades of safe flight, and never had a fatality.

Needed more hours in his log?
Need more money in his paycheck?
Did not want to avoid disappointing the customer?
Just plain over confident?

A lot of underlying possibilities, and we will not likely learn which one(s) were there...…Unless he talked about it before leaving the base.
 
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