Bell 206L-3 and Cessna 172 mid-air collision near Holliston, Massachusetts, April 14, 1986
On April 14, 1986 at about 4:32 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Bell 206L-3 (N302MC) and Cessna 172 (N52118), were involved in a mid-air collision near Holliston, Massachusetts. 4 people were killed and 2 people 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
- April 14, 1986 · about 4:32 pm local time
- Place
- Holliston, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Bell 206L-3 · all 206L-3s on the register
- Registration
- N302MC · registry record · serial 51119
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N52118 · no longer on the register · serial 17274417
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Bell 206L-3 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BELL 206L AND A CESSNA 172 COLLIDED AT 2,000 FEET OVER HOLLISTON, MA. BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULE WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED OR COMMUNICATIONS ESTABLISHED WITH AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE BELL WAS TRAVELING IN A NORTH-NORTHEASTERLY DIRECTION AND THE CESSNA WAS ON A NORTHEASTERLY HEADING. THE CESSNA PILOT STATED HE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF INITIATING A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED AND THAT HE NEVER SAW THE HELICOPTER NOR ANY OTHER TRAFFIC PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE CESSNA HAD DEPARTED HOPEDALE AIRPORT APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. INSPECTION REVEALED ROTOR BLADE SLASH MARKS IN THE CESSNA'S LOWER LEFT ENGINE COWLING. THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED TO TERRAIN IMPACT AFTER THE COLLISION AND THE CESSNA WAS FORCE LANDED IN A FIELD.
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 Cessna 172 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 172 AND A BELL 206L COLLIDED AT 2,000 FEET OVER HOLLISTON, MA. BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN OR COMMUNICATIONS ESTABLISHED WITH AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE BELL WAS TRAVELING IN A NORTH-NORTHEASTERLY DIRECTION AND THE CESSNA WAS ON A NORTEASTERLY HEADING. THE CESSNA PILOT STATED HE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF INITIATING A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED AND THAT HE NEVER SAW THE HELICOPTER NOT ANY OTHER TRAFFIC PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE CESSNA HAD DEPARTED HOPEDALE AIRPORT APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. INSPECTION REVEALED ROTOR BLADE SLASH MARKS IN THE CESSNA'S LOWER LEFT ENGINE COWLING. THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED TO TERRAIN IMPACT AFTER THE COLLISION AND THE CESSNA WAS FORCE LANDED IN A FIELD.
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 206L-3 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,500 hours in all; 730 in this make and model; 1,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 788 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 27, 1986; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C30P (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Millford MA at 4:30 pm
- Destination: Bedford MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 72 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 21 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,327 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 10, 1986; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Hopedale MS at 4:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.