Aerospatiale AS350B accident near Winnsboro, South Carolina, May 29, 1992
On May 29, 1992 at about 7:30 am local time, a Aerospatiale AS350B (helicopter), registered N5806K, was destroyed in an accident near Winnsboro, South Carolina. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT. THE DARK NIGHT AND FOG WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 1992 · about 7:30 am local time
- Place
- Winnsboro, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350B · all AS350Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5806K · no longer on the register · serial 1989
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE EN ROUTE TO A ROAD SIDE EMERGENCY AT NIGHT, AND UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES, HE ENCOUNTERED GROUND FOG AND ENTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. HE SAID THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A 180 DEGREE TURN IN ORDER TO FLY OUT OF THE FOG BANK HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE TREES AND CRASHED INTO THE TERRAIN.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,049 hours in all; 361 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,335 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 26, 1992; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,190 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL 1B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rocky Mountain Helicopters,Inc
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Columbia SC at 7:15 am
- Destination: NONE Winnsboro SC
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 050° at 9 knots
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.