Bell 206L accident near Dauphin Island, Alabama, March 9, 1985
On March 9, 1985 at about 5:05 pm local time, a Bell 206L (helicopter), registered N16841, was destroyed in an accident near Dauphin Island, Alabama (Unknown airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 4 people were killed. 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
- March 9, 1985 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Dauphin Island, Alabama · Unknown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L · all 206Ls on the register
- Registration
- N16841 · no longer on the register · serial 45130
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT DEPARTED FOR OFFSHORE OIL RIG 3 TIMES. TWO TIMES REPORTED RETURNING DUE TO FOG. AFTER THIRD REPORT, PLT SAID HE WAS IFR. NO FURTHER RADIO COMMUNICATION. WRECKAGE INDICATIVE OF HIGH SPEED WATER IMPACT. DENSE FOG AND LOW CEILING REPORTED OFFSHORE SOUTH OF DAUPHIN ISLAND. VFR FLIGHT. PLT NOT CURRENT IN INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,060 hours in all; 5,899 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 6,769 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,789 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 6, 1985; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4R9 at 4:59 pm
- Destination: Gulf Of Mexico OF
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:00 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.