Aerospatiale SA-316B accident near Dardanelle, California, June 23, 1982
On June 23, 1982 at about 8:26 am local time, a Aerospatiale SA-316B (helicopter), registered N6456, was destroyed in an accident near Dardanelle, California. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 people were killed. 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
- June 23, 1982 · about 8:26 am local time
- Place
- Dardanelle, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA-316B
- Registration
- N6456 · no longer on the register · serial 1849
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM MODESTO, CA ON A MEDIVAC FLIGHT TO PICK UP A VICTIM THAT WAS INJURED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. A NURSE AND A MEDICAL TECHNICIAN WERE ON BOARD. SPOTLIGHTS ON VEHICLES WERE USED TO ILLUMINATE THE LANDING AREA AS WELL AS HIGH SURROUNDING TREES. AFTER CIRCLING ABOUT 3 TIMES, THE HELICOPTER STRUCK A TREE ABOUT 134 FT AGL WHILE IN A DESCENDING LEFT TURN. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES REMAIN LODGE IN THE TREE AND THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ABOUT 30 FT FROM THE TREE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,795 hours in all; 5,600 in this make and model; 30 in the last 30 days; 11,120 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,352 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,850 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARTOUSIE IIIB (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Continental Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Modesto CA
- Destination: Dillon MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 140°F (60°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.
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.