Bell 206L-1 accident near Gulf-Of-Mexico, GM, November 17, 1988
On November 17, 1988 at about 7:19 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N2780W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gulf-Of-Mexico, GM. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENGINE FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE PILOT MISJUDGING HIS ALTITUDE DURING THE FLARE RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 1988 · about 7:19 pm local time · cases in 1988
- Place
- Gulf-Of-Mexico, GM
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N2780W · no longer on the register · serial 45332
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,151 hours in all; 1,151 in this make and model; 151 in the last 90 days; 59 in the last 30 days; 12,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,310 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 27, 1988; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C28 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Gulf-Of-Mexico OF at 7:10 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N2780W: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Bell 206 JetRanger and LongRanger 1,453 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Bell 3,079 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Allison 250-C28 530 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW89LA021.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.