Bell 206-B accident near Page, Arizona, July 12, 1985
On July 12, 1985 at about 11:36 pm local time, a Bell 206-B (helicopter), registered N38942, was destroyed in an accident near Page, Arizona. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 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
- July 12, 1985 · about 11:36 pm local time
- Place
- Page, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206-B · all 206-Bs on the register
- Registration
- N38942 · no longer on the register · serial 3189
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON JULY 12, 1984, A BELL 206B HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A STEEL BRIDGE 10 MILES SO OF PAGE, AZ. THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING FILMED IN FLT DURING THE MAKING OF A MOVIE. VMC EXISTED AT THE TIME. THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED AND THE PLT AND PAX, AN ITALIAN ACTOR, WERE FATALLY INJURED. ACCORDING TO THE WITNESSES AND THE FILM, THE ACFT WAS RETURNING TO MAKE ANOTHER PASS UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE AND WAS PROCEEDING TOWARD THE BRIDGE IN A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLT ATTITUDE. WHEN THE ACFT PASSED THROUGH THE ARCH OF THE BRIDGE THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE BRIDGE. THE ACFT SEPARATED IN FLT AND CRASHED INTO THE CANYON BELOW. THE PILOT'S BODY WAS NOT RECOVERED. A BOTTLE OF IONAMIN WAS FOUND IN HIS HOTEL ROOM. USE OF THIS DRUG SHOULD BE CONTRAINDICATED FOR 24 HOURS AFTER ITS USE BECAUSE IT MAY CAUSE ERRORS IN JUDGEMENT.
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
- Flight time: 194 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,567 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, June 26, 1985; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PGA Page AZ at 11:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 2 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:17 pm from PGA, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.