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11 fatalities

Era Aviation Sikorsky S-76A++ Crashes into Gulf of Mexico (N579EH)

Gulf OF Mexico, US

On March 23, 2004, a Sikorsky S76A++ (registration N579EH) operated by Era Aviation, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Gulf OF Mexico. 11 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the flight crew's failure to identify and arrest the helicopter's descent for undetermined reasons, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

On March 23, 2004, an Era Aviation Sikorsky S-76A++ helicopter (N579EH) crashed into the Gulf of Mexico about 70 nautical miles south-southeast of Galveston, Texas, killing all ten aboard. The helicopter was en route to a drilling ship under night VFR conditions.

Accident Overview

On March 23, 2004, at about 1918:34 central standard time, an Era Aviation Sikorsky S-76A++ helicopter, registration N579EH, crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. The accident occurred approximately 70 nautical miles south-southeast of Scholes International Airport (GLS) in Galveston, Texas. The helicopter was destroyed by impact forces.

Flight Details

The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on a visual flight rules flight plan. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The helicopter was transporting eight oil service personnel to the Transocean, Inc., drilling ship Discoverer Spirit, which was en route to a location about 180 miles south-southeast of GLS.

Occupants and Fatalities

The captain, copilot, and eight passengers aboard the helicopter were killed. There were no survivors. The helicopter was destroyed.

Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the accident. The full Aircraft Accident Report is available as NTSB/AAR-06/02. The probable cause of the accident has not been stated in the available summary.

Controlled flight into terrain

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 23 Mar 2004 Sikorsky S76A++ accident near Gulf OF Mexico?

On March 23, 2004, an Era Aviation Sikorsky S-76A++ helicopter (N579EH) crashed into the Gulf of Mexico about 70 nautical miles south-southeast of Galveston, Texas, killing all ten aboard. The helicopter was en route to a drilling ship under night VFR conditions.

Were there any fatalities in the 23 Mar 2004 Sikorsky S76A++ accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 11 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 23 Mar 2004 involved a Sikorsky S76A++, registration N579EH, operated by Era Aviation, Inc., at Gulf OF Mexico.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

the flight crew's failure to identify and arrest the helicopter's descent for undetermined reasons, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20040422X00501. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.