Sikorsky S-58 accident near Biggs, California, July 14, 1983
On July 14, 1983 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Sikorsky S-58 (helicopter), registered N9043P, was destroyed in an accident near Biggs, California (Jones Air Strip airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 14, 1983 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Biggs, California · Jones Air Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-58 · all S-58s on the register
- Registration
- N9043P · no longer on the register · serial 58-012
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE BROUGHT THE HELICOPTER TO A HOVER IN THE LOADING AREA & EASED FORWARD TO THE RWY WHERE HE ATTEMPTED TO 'TRANSITION FROM A HOVER TO FLT.' HE BECAME AWARE THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT GOING TO HAVE SUFFICIENT PERFORMANCE, SO HE ELECTED TO MAKE A ROLL-ON LANDING. HE REPORTED THAT DURING THE ABORTED TAKEOFF, GROUND RESONANCE OCCURRED. THE HELICOPTER BEGUN SHAKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE, THE LEFT GEAR FAILED & THE HELICOPTER WENT OVER ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE TEMP WAS 85 DEG & THE WIND WAS NEARLY 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,584 hours in all; 240 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,431 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 4, 1983; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,700 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright 1820-84 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.
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.