Sikorsky S-76A twin-engine turbine powered helicopter (N579EH) on Tuesday evening, March 23, 2004 in the Gulf of Mexico.
The aircraft, chartered by Unocal of Houston, Texas, departed Scholes International Airport near Galveston, Texas at approximately 6:45 p.m. CST. Its intended destination was High Island A 557 refueling platform, and then an offshore drilling ship. There were 2 crewmembers and 8 passengers aboard.
At 7:23 p.m., the company dispatcher attempted to contact the pilot of the aircraft but received no response. Floating wreckage was found the following day, and a debris field was located in the early morning on March 26, about 70 miles offshore. The debris field is 300 feet by 600 feet and sits in 180 feet of water. The wreckage is reported to be extremely fragmented. The remains of all 10 occupants have been recovered.
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