Bell 206B accident near Georgetown, Colorado, August 8, 1989
On August 8, 1989 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N12DY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Georgetown, Colorado. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, TAIL WIND, GUSTS, AND TERRAIN WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 1989 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N12DY · registry record · serial 1900
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PLT WAS FLYING A CAMERAMAN, WHO WAS FILMING A HIKER AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 13,000 FT IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 280 DEG AT 15, GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS. AFTER TURNING DOWNWIND, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT YAW. THE PLT SAID THAT FULL LEFT PEDAL FAILED TO STOP THE TURN AND HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN IN A RIGHT YAW AND THE SKIDS COLLAPSED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE TAIL ROTOR AND BOTH GEAR BOXES WERE DAMAGED.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 665 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 620 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,549 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 22, 1989; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Evergreen CO at 2:45 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DEN89LA189.