Aerospatiale SA316B accident near Meeteetse, Wyoming, July 8, 1982
On July 8, 1982 at about 1:30 am local time, a Aerospatiale SA316B (helicopter), registered N67081, was destroyed in an accident near Meeteetse, Wyoming. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 5 people were seriously injured 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
- July 8, 1982 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Meeteetse, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA316B
- Registration
- N67081 · registry record · serial 2184
- 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
PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT, A LONG LINE HAD BEEN ATTACHED TO THE HELICOPTER FOR AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION. HOWEVER, THERE WASA CHANGE IN THE SCHEDULE AND THE PILOT WAS INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE BASE CAMP WITH SIX PASSENGERS. WHEN THE PILOT TOOK OFF, HE WAS UNAWARE THAT THE LONG LINE WAS STILL ATTACHRD. DURING THE LANDING APPROACH, THE LONG LINE BECAME ENTANGLED WITH A FENCE AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED. THE ELEVATION OF THE LANDING SITE WAS ABOUT 7000 FT.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,247 hours in all; 104 in this make and model; 113 in the last 90 days; 49 in the last 30 days; 2,985 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,863 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,960 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARTOUSTE IIIB (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Spar Mountain WY at 6:45 pm
- Destination: Wood River Lodg WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 174°F (79°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N67081 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.