Aerospatiale SA316B accident near Stateline, Nevada, August 10, 1994
On August 10, 1994 at about 4:37 am local time, a Aerospatiale SA316B (helicopter), registered N981CF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stateline, Nevada. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot to maintain the proper rate of descent during the vertical descent into the landing zone, which resulted in a hard landing. Factors in the accident were high density altitude and dark night light conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 1994 · about 4:37 am local time
- Place
- Stateline, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA316B
- Registration
- N981CF · no longer on the register · serial 1910
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS EN ROUTE TO PICK UP AN AUTO ACCIDENT VICTIM. THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT MADE A LANDING ZONE IN A PARKING LOT AND MARKED IT WITH ROAD FLARES. THE PARKING LOT IS ABOUT 7,200 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL (MSL). THE PILOT TERMINATED THE APPROACH ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE, AND DESCENDED VERTICALLY. A RAPID RATE OF DESCENT DEVELOPED, WHICH THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST, AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED AT 9,500 FEET ABOVE 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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,668 hours in all; 4,142 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,764 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 5, 1994; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,850 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARTOUSE IIIA (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NV57 Reno NV at 4:06 am
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 am from RNO, 36 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
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.