Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 accident near Meadview, Arizona, July 29, 1984
On July 29, 1984 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 (helicopter), registered N711KH, was destroyed in an accident near Meadview, Arizona. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 people were killed and 2 people were 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 29, 1984 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Meadview, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 · all FH-1100s on the register
- Registration
- N711KH · registry record · serial 114
- 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
PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS S SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF LAKE MEAD, HOOVER DAM AND THE WESTERN RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON. BEFORE REACHING THE CANYON THE FLT WAS TO TRAVEL OVER A 5500 FT MSL RIDGE. THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED A JUNIPER TREE AT THE BOTTOM OF A 3-SIDED CANYON AT 5020 FT MSL. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER AND ENG FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,799 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 13, 1983; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAS Las Vegas NV at 4:43 pm
- Destination: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.