Accident Details
A helicopter was dispatched at night from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on an emergency medical services flight to transport a patient from a hospital in Marion, Illinois, back to Cape Girardeau. After departing from Cape Girardeau, weather conditions at the destination deteriorated. While returning under visual flight rules, the pilot was unable to land at the destination hospital. The flight nurse commented that the patient's condition was worsening and they would have to "get down."
Pilot Actions
The pilot elected to track to the Cape Girardeau Airport using the instrument landing system (ILS) course to assess whether the airport lighting would assist in a descent. He reported that while tracking inbound and holding at about 300 feet, he noticed the helicopter was left of course. He began to correct back to the course but could not remember anything beyond that point. The pilot also reported that he had left the strobe light on and experienced flicker vertigo.
Collision and Crash
Subsequently, the helicopter struck a power line and crashed on level terrain in an open field. The flight nurse, therapist, and patient were fatally injured in the accident.