Bell 206 accident near Searchlight, Nevada, May 6, 1991
On May 6, 1991 at about 7:01 am local time, a Bell 206 (helicopter), registered N49720, was destroyed in an accident near Searchlight, Nevada. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
CANNOT BE DETERMINED IN THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS STOLEN AND THE CERTAINTY OF THE RESULTING DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER MAY HAVE BEEN INTENTIONAL OR ACCIDENTAL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 1991 · about 7:01 am local time
- Place
- Searchlight, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N49720 · no longer on the register · serial 1899
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A BELL HELICOPTER 206 WAS STOLEN FROM THE OPERATOR DURING A ON-DEMAND AIR TAXI FLIGHT. A PASSENGER WAS FIRST TRANSPORTED BETWEEN TWO AIRPORTS. THE PASSENGER THEN ASKED THE PILOT TO FLY BY A MINE SITE. THE HELICOPTER LANDED AT THE MINE SITE AND WAS GREETED BY AN INDIVIDUAL CARRYING A RIFLE. THE PILOT WAS ASSAULTED AND KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. THE HELICOPTER WAS THEN FLOWN AWAY. THE HELICOPTER WAS FOUND THREE DAYS LATER BY POLICE ABANDONED ON UNEVEN DESERT TERRAIN. THE WRECKAGE WAS DESCRIBED AS 'ROLLED UP IN A BALL.' TRACES OF BLOOD AND HAIR WERE FOUND IN THE HELICOPTER'S OVERHEAD STRUCTURE ABOVE THE PILOT'S SEAT. SAMPLES OF THE BLOOD AND HAIR DID NOT MATCH THOSE OF THE ASSAILED PILOT. THE HELICOPTER HAD ROLLED OVER DURING A LANDING ATTEMPT. THE TIME AND DATE OF THE ACCIDENT CANNOT BE DETERMINED. THE IDENTITY OF THE PILOT CANNOT BE DETERMINED. THE THEFT OF THE HELICOPTER IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 C18 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.