Bell 206L-1 accident near Saginaw, Texas, July 15, 1985
On July 15, 1985 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N32GT, was destroyed in an accident near Saginaw, Texas. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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 15, 1985 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Saginaw, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N32GT · no longer on the register · serial 45663
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER HAD LANDED IN THE ROAD TO PICK UP AN INJURED AUTO ACCIDENT PATIENT. THE PLT MADE AN AERIAL CHECK PRIOR TO LANDING TO THE WEST IN A CALM WIND CONDITION. THE PATIENT WAS LOADED IN A SECURE STRETCHER AND ALL WAS READY FOR LIFTOFF. THE PLT STATED HE DID NOT OBSERVE THE TELEPHONE LINES ACROSS THE ROAD. THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE LINES ON THE ENGINE NACELLE COWLING WITH THE WIRES CONTINUING UP THE ROTOR MAST CAUSING THE PITCH CHANGE LINKS TO SEPARATE CAUSING LOSS OF HELICOPTER CONTROL AND RESULTING IN SURFACE IMPACT WITH THE ROAD.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,015 hours in all; 605 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 11,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,195 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 30, 1985; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C-28 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | 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.