Bell 206B accident near Alamo, California, August 3, 1986
On August 3, 1986 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N49606, was destroyed in an accident near Alamo, California. It was a personal 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
- August 3, 1986 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Alamo, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N49606 · no longer on the register · serial 1775
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE HELICOPTER CIRCLE TWICE OVER A RESIDENCE AT AN ALT OF APRX 50' AGL. UPON INITIATING THE THIRD TURN THE HELICOPTER ENTERED AN ABRUPT 90 DEG BANK AND NOSED DOWN TO IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. EXAM OF THE HELICOPTER FAILED TO REVEAL ANY FAILURE/MALFUNCTION. POSTMORTEM EXAM OF THE PLT REVEALED SEVERE ARTHERIOSCLEROTIC HEART DISEASE WHICH MOST PROBABLY RESULTED IN A CATASTROPHIC MYOCARDIAL EVENT JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT HAD A HISTORY OF HEART DISEASE DATING PRIOR TO OCT, 1981. IN SEPT, 1984, THE PLT WAS DENIED A CLASS II MEDICAL BASED ON HIS MEDICAL HISTORY. IN JAN, 1985, THE NEWLY APPOINTED FAS ISSUED A SPECIAL ISSUANCE CLASS II WITHOUT FURTHER MEDICAL EXAMS.AFTER FURTHER MEDICAL EXAMS IN APRIL, 1986, THE PLT WAS ISSUED AN UNRESTRICTED CLASS II MEDICAL IN MAY, 1986. AT THIS TIME THE PLT WAS ADVISED TO REPORT ANY CHANGES IN HIS MEDICAL CONDITION. DURING THAT SAME MONTH, THE PLT WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR A MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION. THIS EVENT WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE FAS AND THE PLT CONTINUED FLYING.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 16,272 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 1986; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Danville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.