Aerospatiale AS-350D accident near Lebec, California, January 20, 1994
On January 20, 1994 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS-350D (helicopter), registered N5795X, was destroyed in an accident near Lebec, California. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHICH MASKED THE PRESENCE OF THE WIRES AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 20, 1994 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lebec, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-350D · all AS-350Ds on the register
- Registration
- N5795X · no longer on the register · serial 1442
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AN AEROSPATIALE AS350D HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TWO POWER TRANSMISSION CABLES IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHILE PREPARING TO LAND AT AN OFF-AIRPORT SITE. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT SCHEDULED TO LAND AT THE SITE AND THE PILOT HAD NOT LANDED AT THE SITE IN THE PAST. HIGHER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN THE AREA MASKED THE UNMARKED WIRES AND SUPPORT TOWERS. THE POWER TRANSMISSION CABLES WERE DEPICTED ON THE AERONAUTICAL SECTIONAL CHART AND WERE NOT REQUIRED TO BE MARKED.
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: 6,000 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 921 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 10, 1993; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming LTS-101-600A (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Bakersfield CA at 4:30 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from BFL, 35 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.