Bell 47G-3B-1 accident near Montrose, Colorado, May 20, 1983
On May 20, 1983 at about 3:43 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 (helicopter), registered N1129W, was destroyed in an accident near Montrose, Colorado. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- May 20, 1983 · about 3:43 pm local time
- Place
- Montrose, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B-1 · all 47G-3B-1s on the register
- Registration
- N1129W · registry record · serial 1181028
- 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
WX AT THE DEPARTURE POINT WAS VMC BUT THE SURROUNDING MOUNTANS WERE PARTIALLY OBSCURED. THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS FOLLOWING A ROAD UP THE MOUNTAIN & LANDED AS THE VISIBILITY DETERIORATED. EACH TIME THE CLOUD LIFTED THE PLT WOULD LIFT-OFF & AGAIN LAND AS THE VISIBILITY DETERIORATED. DURING THE 5TH TRIP UP THE ROAD, VISIBILITY WAS ABOUT 1/2 MI. THE PLT STATED THE 1ST SWITCHBACK WAS '...NOT LANDABLE, BUT THE SECOND ONE APPEARED TO BE.' ABOUT 1/2 WAY TO THE SECOND SWITCHBACK THE CEILING '...PLUMMETED DOWN. THE ROAD CLOSED IN BEHIND ME AND I STARTED LOOSING THE NEXT SWITCHBACK.' OAK BRUSH TREES ON THE HILLSIDE BORE EVIDENCE OF BEING CUT & BROKEN NEXT TO THE WRECKAGE.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,874 hours in all; 342 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 5,656 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,429 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 1, 1983; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20-B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Montrose CO
- Destination: Storm King Mtn CO
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 100 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°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.