Bell 47D1 accident near Miami, Florida, April 17, 1989
On April 17, 1989 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Bell 47D1 (helicopter), registered N342L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Miami, Florida. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE UNQUALIFIED PERSONS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE FENCE. PRESSURE INDUCED BY OTHERS, LACK OF EXPERIENCE, AND OVER CONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY ARE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THIS ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 1989 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47D1 · all 47D1s on the register
- Registration
- N342L · no longer on the register · serial 611
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PLT WITH NO HELICOPTER RATING LANDED WITHIN THE CONFINES OF A FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL CENTER FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING A CONVICTED DRUG SMUGGLER CONFINED TO A LIFE TERM TO ESCAPE. DURING LIFT-OFF, THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A CONCERTINA WIRE-TOPPED FENCE & CRASHED. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE ARRESTED & TRANSPORTED TO THE PRISON WARD OF A LOCAL HOSPITAL. NTSB FORM 6120.1, REPORT OF ACFT ACCIDENT WAS NOT RETURNED BY THE PLT TO THE NTSB'S MIAMI REGIONAL OFFICE.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6VS-335 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TMB Miami FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from TMB, 2 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.