Bell 47G-2 accident near Concord, California, June 25, 1984
On June 25, 1984 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Bell 47G-2 (helicopter), registered N953, was destroyed in an accident near Concord, California (Buchanan 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 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 25, 1984 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Concord, California · Buchanan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2 · all 47G-2s on the register
- Registration
- N953 · no longer on the register · serial 1389
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO A PLT/OPERATOR STATEMENT, THE STUDENT PLT WAS CLEARED FOR A DOWNWIND APCH TO LAND ON 'PAD 3.' THE STUDENT STATED THAT THE APCH WAS NORMAL UNTIL HE SLOWED TO 40 MPH & 'MADE LEFT TURN TO FINAL APPROACH INTO A CROSS WIND.' DURING THE TURN TO FINAL APCH, THE STUDENT ATTEMPTED TO COMMUNICATE WITH ATC TO REQUEST A TURN INTO THE WIND. DURING THE DISCUSSION, THE STUDENT BECAME DISTRACTED. HE ALLOW THE AIRSPEED TO DECAY & THE HELICOPTER BEGAN SETTLING WITH POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD IN A TAIL LOW ATTITUDE & THE TAIL ROTOR SEPARATED. THE HELICOPTER THEN BEGAN TO ROTATE & THE GEAR (SKID) SEPARATED.
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: 71 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 13 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 22, 1984; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A18 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LVK Livermore CA at 8:25 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:20 pm from CCR, 1 miles away
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.