Bell 206B-III accident near White Plains, Maryland, September 10, 1989
On September 10, 1989 at about 2:18 am local time, a Bell 206B-III (helicopter), registered N3195B, was substantially damaged in an accident near White Plains, Maryland. It was a public-use flight under public-use (government) rules. 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES IN THAT HE DELAYED HIS CLIMB DURING A NIGHT TAKEOFF FROM A CONFINED AREA. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE DARK NIGHT AND SURROUNDING OBSTRUCTIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1989 · about 2:18 am local time
- Place
- White Plains, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B-III · all 206B-IIIs on the register
- Registration
- N3195B · no longer on the register · serial 3858
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A NIGHT APPROACH TO A FIELD ESTABLISHED BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEP'T FOR A MED-EVAC, THE PILOT WAS TOLD OF WIRES ON THE WEST SIDE & THAT ONE OF THE POLICE CARS WAS PARKED BENEATH THEM. HE CIRCLED THE AREA 3-4 TIMES FOR HAZARDS USING THE SEARCHLIGHT WHILE COMMUNICATING WITH GROUND UNITS. AFTER LOADING THE PATIENT THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED TO THE WEST ACROSS THE APRX 500-FT FIELD. WITNESSES STATED THE HELICOPTER NEVER GOT HIGHER THAN THE WIRES UNTIL IT WAS ABOUT 20 FT FROM THEM, THEN NOSE UP TO ABOUT A 45-DEG ANGLE, CLIMB OVER THE WIRES, AND DESCEND INTO THE GROUND. THE ACTING COMMANDER OF THE STATE POLICE AVIATION DIVISION STATED THAT THE USE OF MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE TAKEOFFS IS CONSIDERED MANDATORY WHEN DEPARTING LANDING SITES AT NIGHT WHERE OBSTACLES SUCH AS WIRES ARE IN THE AREA AND THE CREW HAS NEVER LANDED THERE BEFORE.
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: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,432 hours in all; 1,030 in this make and model; 1,341 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,853 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 7, 1989; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Maryland State Police
The flight
- Departed from: Cheverly MD at 1:30 am
- Destination: Centerville MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 am from ADW, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 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.