Bell/Textron 206 L-1 accident near 36 SW Laramie, Wyoming, January 23, 1982
On January 23, 1982 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Bell/Textron 206 L-1 (helicopter), registered N1085T, was substantially damaged in an accident near 36 SW Laramie, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- January 23, 1982 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- 36 SW Laramie, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell/Textron 206 L-1
- Registration
- N1085T · registry record · serial 45376
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A ROAD DUE TO SNOW, WIND AND REDUCED VISIBILITY THE PILOT TOOKOFF WHEN HE DECIDED CONDITIONS HAD IMPROVED. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE VISIBILITY WORSENED AND DURING THE EXECUTION OF A 180 DEGREE TURN THE PILOT STATED THE ENGINE LOSS POWER. WITH THE ALTITUDE TOO LOW FOR AUTOROTATION THE PILOT LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD. DURING THE LANDING A SKID BROKE AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER. NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE WERE DETERMINED DURING THE SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION.
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: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,305 hours in all; 176 in this make and model; 145 in the last 90 days; 10,046 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,199 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 1,199 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,050 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C28B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Occidental Oil-Shale, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: GJT Grand Junction CO at 8:30 am
- Destination: 3V5 Ft. Collins CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 40 knots
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.