Bell 206B N7982J

Summary

On 13 September 1996 at about 19:55 local time, a Bell 206B registered N7982J was involved in an accident near Cantwell, Alaska, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 September 1996 at 19:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Cantwell, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

63.0094, -149.3999

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N7982J

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Colorado → Teklanika Lake

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC96LA154

1 person was seriously injured.

the pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The terrain conditions, low ceiling, fog, and whiteout conditions were related factors.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and 2 passengers departed in a helicopter on a flight over a large mountain range. Weather conditions along the intended route of flight, following a highway through a large pass, included low ceilings, snow, and fog. The area forecast included an AIRMET for marginal VFR and temporary IFR conditions. The pilot made several telephone calls to an FAA flight service station and his company office in the area of the pass to access the weather conditions. He decided to cross the mountain range in an area 23 miles west of the first intended route, over a small mountain pass. During flight over the pass, he encountered low ceilings with snow and fog. He entered whiteout conditions and began a turn to reverse direction. The pilot became disoriented and the helicopter collided with snow covered terrain at an elevation of about 5,300 feet.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.