Bell 47G3B2A accident near Texarkana, Texas, November 24, 1991
On November 24, 1991 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Bell 47G3B2A (helicopter), registered N8134J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Texarkana, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER TERRAIN CLEARANCE DURING TAKEOFF. A FACTOR WAS HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN HELICOPTERS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 24, 1991 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Texarkana, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G3B2A · all 47G3B2As on the register
- Registration
- N8134J · no longer on the register · serial 6835
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 25 HOUR HELICOPTER STUDENT PILOT, ON AN ENDORSED SOLO FLIGHT, LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD ADJACENT TO HIS SON'S HOUSE. HIS TWO ADOLESCENT GRANDCHILDREN BOARDED THE HELICOPTER TO GO FOR A FLIGHT. AS THE HELICOPTER SETTLED WHILE PASSING THROUGH EFFECTIVE TRANSLATIONAL LIFT, THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE AND THE RIGHT SKID IMPACTED THE SOFT GROUND RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL.
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
- Flight time: 233 hours in all; 25 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,632 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 21, 1991; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TVO-435-F1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Atlanta TX at 9:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from TXK, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.