STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN CRASH SITE

Stevie Ray Vaughan Crash Site

ALPINE VALLEY, EAST TROY, WI

Alpine Valley in East Troy, WI is located in Southeastern Wisconsin and is actually a ski resort. The helicopter that Stevie Ray Vaughan rode in crashed on the morning of August 27th, 1990 just after a concert there. The location is almost at the top of the ski hill off to the left. The stage is located directly behind the cameraman and the helicopter took off about where the cameraman is standing.

Check out our SRV XV tribute page with pictures of the stage where he played his last notes and pictures of the crash site.

Arrow indicates the approximate trajectory of the helicopter and the spot where it crashed.

This is a diagram given to us by an Alpine Valley employee. She circled the area where the wreckage was discovered.

FINAL NTSB REPORT ON THE CRASH

NTSB Identification: CHI90MA244 .
The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 43569.
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Monday, August 27, 1990 in ELKHORN, WI
Probable Cause Approval Date: 9/11/1992
Aircraft: BELL 206B, registration: N16933
Injuries: 5 Fatal.

FOUR HELICOPTERS WERE BEING USED AT NIGHT TO TRANSPORT A CONCERT GROUP FROM A GOLF COURSE AREA NEAR ELKHORN, WI, TO CHICAGO, IL. AS THE THIRD HELICOPTER (N16933) WAS DEPARTING, IT REMAINED AT A LOWER ALTITUDE THAN THE OTHERS, AND THE PILOT TURNED SOUTHEASTERLY TOWARD RISING TERRAIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER CRASHED ON HILLY TERRAIN ABOUT 3/5 MI FROM THE TAKEOFF POINT. ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 100 FT ABOVE THE GOLF COURSE AND 50 FT BELOW THE SUMMIT OF THE HILL. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. PILOTS OF THE OTHER HELICOPTERS REPORTED VFR FLIGHT CONDITIONS WITH SOME FOG. A GROUND WITNESS NEAR THE CRASH SITE REPORTED HAZE AND GROUND FOG OF VARYING INTENSITY WITH PATCHES OF LOW CLOUDS, BUT SAID STARS COULD BE SEEN THROUGH THE FOG.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE BEFORE FLYING OVER RISING TERRAIN AT NIGHT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, FOG, HAZE, RISING TERRAIN, AND THE LACK OF VISUAL CUES THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO THE PILOT.

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