Bell 206B accident near Camp Verde, Arizona, May 25, 1989
On May 25, 1989 at about 11:29 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N49608, was destroyed in an accident near Camp Verde, Arizona. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO CLEAR OBSTRUCTIONS IN HIS FLIGHT PATH AND VISUALLY DETECT OBSTRUCTIONS IN ORDER TO AVERT A COLLISION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 1989 · about 11:29 pm local time
- Place
- Camp Verde, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N49608 · no longer on the register · serial 1733
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A BELL HELICOPTER 206B COLLIDED WITH UNMARKED POWER TRANSMISSION CABLES WHILE ON A VFR POSITIONING FLIGHT. THE PILOT HAD FLOWN SEVERAL SCENIC FLIGHTS EARLIER IN THE DAY AND WAS RETURNING TO THE OPERATOR'S FACILITY WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THE HELICOPTER'S COURSE WAS ON A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION. THE WIRES WERE SUSPENDED ACROSS A TERRAIN FEATURE KNOWN AS A SADDLE. THE SPAN WAS ABOUT ONE MILE BETWEEN THE POLES THAT SUPPORTED THE CABLES. THE POLES WERE MASKED FROM VIEW WHEN APPROACHING FROM THE NORTH BY TERRAIN. THE CABLES WERE ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE ELEVATION OF THE CABLES WAS 4,140 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. THE CABLES WERE DEPICTED ON THE SECTIONAL AERONAUTICAL CHART. THE MAXIMUM ELEVATION FIGURE FOR THE ACCIDENT QUADRANGLE ON THE SECTIONAL CHART WAS 7,200 FEET MSL.
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; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,134 hours in all; 51 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 7,690 as pilot in command; 375 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,570 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 2, 1989; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SEZ Sedona AZ at 10:45 pm
- Destination: FFZ Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 15 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from PRC, 34 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.