Event ATL87MA028

Factual narrative

THE OWNER/OPERATOR (OPER) OF A FLYING SERVICE PROVIDED ACFT FOR BROADCASTING STATIONS IN THE AREA. A RADIO STATION HAD CONTRACTED WITH THE OPER TO PROVIDE A HELICOPTER (HELO, N59610) & A PLT TO TAKE A NEWS RPRTR ON A LOCAL TRAFFIC WATCH. THE OPER RPRTD THAT ON THE MORNING OF THE ACDNT, THE CEILING WAS RAGGED & HE SUGGESTED TO THE NEWS RPRTR THAT THE TAKE- OFF BE DELAYED UNTIL DAYLIGHT. THE RPRTR REJECTED THE SUGGESTION, SINCE AN ACFT FOR A COMPETING BROADCASTING STATION WAS ALREADY AIRBORNE. THE OPER HAD A POLICY OF NOT FLYING A HELO WHEN THE CEILING OR VIS WAS LESS THAN 300' OR 1/2 MI, BUT THE DECISION FOR FLT WAS LEFT TO THE PLT. BFR SUNRISE, N59610 WAS CLRD AS LEADER OF A FLT OF 2 FOR A SVFR DEPARTURE IN FOGGY CONDS. THE PLT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. AFTER DEPARTING, N59610 ENTERED DENSE FOG & SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED ON WOODED, RISING TERRAIN ABOUT 1 MI SOUTH OF THE DEPARTURE POINT. AT CINCINNATI, THE 0555 WX WAS, IN PART: 600' OVERCAST, 1-1/2 MI VIS WITH FOG; AT 0655 THE CEILING & VIS WERE 200' OVERCAST & 1/2 MI WITH FOG. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12