Bell 430 accident near Xalapa, Mx, October 6, 2015
On October 6, 2015 at about 11:55 pm local time, a Bell 430 (helicopter), registered XCVER, was destroyed in an accident near Xalapa. 2 people were killed.
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 6, 2015 · about 11:55 pm local time
- Place
- Xalapa, Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell 430 · all 430s on the register
- Registration
- XCVER · no longer on the register · serial 45039
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On October 6, 2015, at 2355 coordinated universal time (UTC), a Bell 430 helicopter, Mexican registration XC-VER, collided with terrain after departure from the El Lencero Airport, Xalapa, Mexico. A postimpact fire ensued. The pilot and co-pilot were fatally injured and the helicopter was destroyed. The helicopter departed the El Lencero Airport at 2353 was en route to the Veracruz International Airport, Veracruz, Mexico. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC). This report is for informational purposes only and contains information released by or obtained from the government of the Mexico. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes Providencia No. 807 - 6o piso Colonia del Valle Codigo Postal 03100 México, D.F. Mexico
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
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.