Bell 206 accident near Kenai, Alaska, July 30, 1994
On July 30, 1994 at about 2:00 am local time, a Bell 206 (helicopter), registered N90315, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kenai, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE HELICOPTER IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH EXCEEDED THE AIRCRAFT'S PERFORMANCE ENVELOPE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 1994 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Kenai, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N90315 · no longer on the register · serial 1863
- 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
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND THE HELICOPTER ON THE SUMMIT OF A 11,070 FT. MSL. MOUNTAIN AT OR NEAR THE MAXIMUM AUTHORIZED STRUCTURAL GROSS WEIGHT OF 3,200 LBS. AS EQUIPPED, THE HELICOPTER WAS LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OPERATIONAL ALTITUDE OF 9,000 FT. MSL.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,950 hours in all; 68 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,643 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 22, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Alaska West Air
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
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.