Bell 206B and Bell 206B mid-air collision near Gulf Of Mexico, October 18, 1982
On October 18, 1982 at about 3:12 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Bell 206B (N55AL) and Bell 206B (N9914K), were involved in a mid-air collision near Gulf Of Mexico. 3 people were killed. 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
- October 18, 1982 · about 3:12 pm local time
- Place
- Gulf Of Mexico
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N55AL · registry record · serial 1397
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9914K · no longer on the register · serial 1933
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Bell 206B final · quoted from the NTSB record
N55AL HAD DEPARTED VERMILLION BLOCK 84 AT ABOUT 0956 ENROUTE TO VERMILLION BLOCK 39 WITH AN ETA OF 1010. THE PLT CALLED AT ABOUT 1011 STATING HE WOULD BE LANDING IN ABOUT 1 MINUTE. N9914K HAD DEPARTED VERMILLION BLOCK 64 AT ABOUT 1010 ENROUTE TO VERMILLION BLOCK 60. THE COLLISION OCCURRED ABOUT 24 MI SW OF INTERCOASTAL CITY, LA.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Bell 206B final · quoted from the NTSB record
N55AL HAD DEPARTED VERMILLION BLOCK 84 AT ABOUT 0956 ENROUTE TO VERMILLION BLOCK 39 WITH AN ETA OF 1010. THE PLT CALLED AT ABOUT 1011 STATING HE WOULD BE LANDING IN ABOUT 1 MINUTE. N9914K HAD DEPARTED VERMILLION BLOCK 64 AT ABOUT 1010 ENROUTE TO VERMILLION BLOCK 60. THE COLLISION OCCURRED ABOUT 24 MI SW OF INTERCOASTAL CITY, LA.
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 for the Bell 206B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,873 hours in all; 1,673 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 1,808 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,943 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Logistics
The flight
- Departed from: Vermillion Bloc GM at 9:56 am
- Destination: Vermillion Bloc GM
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 178°F (81°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Bell 206B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,008 hours in all; 434 in this make and model; 238 in the last 90 days; 1,508 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,557 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Petroleum Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Vermillion Bloc GM at 10:00 am
- Destination: Vermillion Bloc GM
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.