Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206L-4 and Dehavilland DHC-2 mid-air collision near King Salmon, Alaska, September 5, 2023
On September 5, 2023, 2 aircraft, Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206L-4 (N193AL) and Dehavilland DHC-2 (N97EL), were involved in a mid-air collision near King Salmon, Alaska. 1 person had minor injuries; 7 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of both pilots to see and avoid while en route, which resulted in a midair collision.
The failure of both pilots to see and avoid while en route, which resulted in a midair collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 2023
- Place
- King Salmon, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 7 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206L-4, built 2006 · all 206L-4s on the register
- Registration
- N193AL · registry record · serial 52344
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Dehavilland DHC-2, built 1958 · all DHC-2s on the register
- Registration
- N97EL · registry record · serial 1345
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206L-4 final · quoted from the NTSB record
While en route to their respective destinations in visual meteorological conditions at an altitude about 1,000 ft, a float-equipped airplane and a helicopter collided midair. The airplane pilot had broadcast his position over a common traffic advisory frequency for the area. The helicopter pilot was monitoring the common traffic advisory frequency and was also monitoring automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) data from other aircraft on a moving map display; however, the airplane was not ADS-B equipped. The airplane pilot did not see the helicopter in time to avoid the collision. The helicopter pilot never saw the airplane and was unaware that his helicopter had collided with the airplane until after the accident. As a result of the midair collision, the airplane sustained minor damage to the floats and propeller, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and drive train system.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Dehavilland DHC-2 final · quoted from the NTSB record
While en route to their respective destinations in visual meteorological conditions at an altitude about 1,000 ft, a float-equipped airplane and a helicopter collided midair. The airplane pilot had broadcast his position over a common traffic advisory frequency for the area. The helicopter pilot was monitoring the common traffic advisory frequency and was also monitoring automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) data from other aircraft on a moving map display; however, the airplane was not ADS-B equipped. The airplane pilot did not see the helicopter in time to avoid the collision. The helicopter pilot never saw the airplane and was unaware that his helicopter had collided with the airplane until after the accident. As a result of the midair collision, the airplane sustained minor damage to the floats and propeller, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and drive train system.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206L-4 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during enroute defining event
- Part(s) separation from AC during enroute
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,267 hours in all; 435 in this make and model; 217 in the last 90 days; 79 in the last 30 days; 2,194 as pilot in command; 267 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 14, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,677.1 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 3, 2023; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,550 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royc 250-C30P (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAKN King Salmon AK at 11:50 pm
- Destination: PAHO Homer AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from PAKN, 34 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAKN 050054Z 26006KT 10SM FEW035 15/07 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP178 T01500072 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
The factual record for the Dehavilland DHC-2 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,100 hours in all; 5,010 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 6,100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 1, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19,087.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 2023; 110 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 SERIES (piston); 3,880 hours total
- Operator: Alaskas Enchanted Lake Lodge INC
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Katmai National Park AK
- Destination: none Katmai National Park AK
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC23LA071.