Bell 206B accident near San Antonio, Texas, December 23, 1982
On December 23, 1982 at about 2:21 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N206H, was destroyed in an accident near San Antonio, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- December 23, 1982 · about 2:21 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N206H · registry record · serial 263
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DEPARTED BRACKETTVILLE AT 0715 & AT 0740 CONTACTED UVALDE UNICOM FOR THEIR WX. WHEN INFORMED THAT UVALDE WAS "ZERO-ZERO" THE FLT CONTINUED EAST. THE ACFT WAS LATER OBSERVED & HEARD FLYING ABOVE THE LOW INDEFINITE CEILING SHORTLY BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND IN A TIGHT DESCENDING RIGHT HAND TURN AT HIGH VELOCITY. WITNESSES AT THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED 60-200 FT CEILINGS & VISIBILITY WELL BELOW 1 MI.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,250 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 284 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C-20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C Brackettville TX at 7:15 am
- Destination: C Houston TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 144°F (62°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 am from SAT, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.