Bell 206 L-1 accident near Delta Junction, Alaska, March 16, 1982
On March 16, 1982 at about 12:37 pm local time, a Bell 206 L-1 (helicopter), registered N1069S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delta Junction, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 1982 · about 12:37 pm local time
- Place
- Delta Junction, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 L-1 · all 206 L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N1069S · no longer on the register · serial 45544
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE FLYING AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET AGL IN WINDY TURBULENT CONDITIONS OVER SNOW COVERED TERRAIN,THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE FROZEN RIVER.AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT WAS CHANGING RADIO FREQUENCIES WHEN IMPACT OCCURRED.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,611 hours in all; 2,203 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 5,296 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,456 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,250 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 C-28 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Logistics Of Alaska, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Alaska Pipeline AK at 8:30 am
- Destination: Paxson AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 25 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.