Hiller UH-12A accident near Satartia, Mississippi, September 11, 1999
On September 11, 1999 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12A (helicopter), registered N212W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Satartia, Mississippi. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while on approach which resulted in the uncontrolled collision with the ground. A factor was the pilot's physiological condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 1999 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Satartia, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12A · all UH-12As on the register
- Registration
- N212W · registry record · serial 237
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot decided to land in an open area next to a soybean field due to a physical urgency. He stated that during the approach, a 'loud noise occurred' and the helicopter became 'uncontrollable,' with the control stick moving forcefully in all directions. Upon impact, the helicopter rolled onto its right side, sustaining damage to the main rotor blades, the tail boom, the skids, and the fuselage. Examination of the helicopter disclosed that the forward engine/transmission mounts had separated from the airframe. Examination of the engine mounts, however, revealed the fracture surface was consistent with overstress separation.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,644 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 111 in the last 30 days; 7,560 as pilot in command; 91 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,092 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1998; 147 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-200-C33 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE MS at 10:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from GWO, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.