Bell B-206B accident near Paxson, Alaska, October 17, 1983
On October 17, 1983 at about 1:45 am local time, a Bell B-206B (helicopter), registered N215AL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Paxson, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- October 17, 1983 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Paxson, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bell B-206B
- Registration
- N215AL · registry record · serial 001041
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE TOOK OFF UPSLOPE INTO THE WIND IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKING OFF, HE MADE A RIGHT TURN TO A X-WIND, & SECONDS LATER, HE MADE A FURTHER TURN THE RIGHT (DOWNWIND). VISIBILITY TOWARD THE EAST WAS ABOUT 1/4 MI, BUT TO THE WEST, THE VISIBILITY WAS GOOD. THERE WAS ONLY 1 VISUAL POINT ON THE HORIZON. THE PLT STATED HE BEGAN A CLIMB FOR VISUAL REFERENCE ON THE HORIZON, THEN NOTICED THE HELICOPTER WAS SETTLING. THE ENG OUT/LOW RPM AUDIO WARNING & LIGHT ACTIVATED JUST BEFORE THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED SNOW COVERED TERRAIN IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE WHILE MOVING FORWARD. A SKID DUG IN & THE HELICOPTER WENT OVER ON ITS TOP. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER WAS COVERED WITH SNOW & WAS NOT RECOVERED; THEREFORE, THE CAUSE OF THE APPARENT POWER LOSS WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 6800 FT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,505 hours in all; 697 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 3,249 as pilot in command; 127 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,181 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 27, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Logistics Of Ak INC
The flight
- Destination: Fairbank AK
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.