Bell 47-G-2 accident near Ardmore, Oklahoma, September 17, 1998
On September 17, 1998 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Bell 47-G-2 (helicopter), registered N1575, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ardmore, Oklahoma (Ardmore Downtown Executiv airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots failure to maintain clearance with terrain and the ensuing loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1998 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ardmore, Oklahoma · Ardmore Downtown Executiv · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47-G-2 · all 47-G-2s on the register
- Registration
- N1575 · no longer on the register · serial 57
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student pilot lost control of the aircraft after the tail rotor contacted the ground. Witnesses to the accident saw the aircraft spin around to the right after the tail rotor hit the ground. When the student pilot attempted to set the aircraft back down, the helicopter rolled on to its side. The winds at the time of the accident were reported to be calm.
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: student
- Flight time: 41 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,948 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 8, 1998; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Versatile Helicopters INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 1F0 at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 500 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N1575 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.