Mbb BK-117 A-1 accident near Tyler, Texas, February 14, 1989
On February 14, 1989 at about 4:17 am local time, a Mbb BK-117 A-1 (helicopter), registered N7025L, was destroyed in an accident near Tyler, Texas. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO EXECUTE THE PUBLISHED INADVERTENT IMC PROCEDURES WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 1989 · about 4:17 am local time
- Place
- Tyler, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mbb BK-117 A-1
- Registration
- N7025L · no longer on the register · serial 7025
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED AFTER CONTACTING 70' TALL HIGH TENSION POWER LINES WHILE ON A NIGHT NON-EMERGENCY EMS MISSION. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, WX WAS IMC WITH LOW OVC CEILINGS, 1/4 TO 1 MILE VIS WITH RAIN AND FOG AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGHOUT THE AREA. WITNESSES STATED THE RAIN VARIED FROM DRIZZLE TO VERY HEAVY. THE PILOT RECEIVED 3 BRIEFINGS FROM AFSS AND WAS FULLY AWARE OF THE CONDITIONS. HE HAD THE AUTHORITY TO REFUSE THE MISSION IF, IN HIS JUDGEMENT, THE WX WAS QUESTIONABLE OR UNACCEPTABLE. THE HOSPITAL HAD WRITTEN PROCEDURES FOR INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO IMC WHICH THE PLT DID NOT FOLLOW. RECORDS FAIL TO INDICATE THAT THE PILOT HAD REVIEWED THESE PROCEDURES NOR DO THEY INDICATE THAT THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED ANY IFR TRAINING DURING HIS 1 MONTH EMPLOYMENT.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,554 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 6,416 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,254 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 7, 1989; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,040 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming LTS-101650B-1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: NONE Pittsburg TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 am from TYR, 7 miles away
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.