What happened
During a night flight, a pilot was operating an aircraft in conditions where the temperature and dew point were both 64 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot landed several miles west of San Diego, Texas, stating that the landing was necessitated by fog. The purpose of the flight was to deliver birds for a hunting trip scheduled for the following day.
After landing, the pilot sought directions to another town. Local individuals provided directions and offered to transport the birds into town, suggesting the pilot could leave the helicopter behind while they waited for a driver to pick up the cargo. Despite this offer, the pilot decided to attempt to reach the next town via the helicopter.
Following departure, the aircraft failed to arrive at its destination. Local hunters reported hearing the sound of a crash approximately seven miles west of the departure location. A search operation was launched; however, due to dense fog, the search was terminated after two and a half hours. The wreckage was located the following day, situated approximately 9 miles west of San Diego, Texas.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found no pre-impact mechanical problems with the aircraft.