Bölkow BO-105S accident near Perry, Florida, November 4, 1994
On November 4, 1994 at about 4:07 pm local time, a Bölkow BO-105S (helicopter), registered N911LF, was destroyed in an accident near Perry, Florida. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE FROM THE POWER LINE, WHILE BUZZING (AT LOW ALTITUDE).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 4, 1994 · about 4:07 pm local time
- Place
- Perry, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bölkow BO-105S
- Registration
- N911LF · no longer on the register · serial S-740
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE SURVIVING PASSENGER REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER PILOT HAD STATED OVER THE INTERCOM THAT HE WAS GOING TO 'BREAK IN THE NEW PASSENGER WITH A REAL RIDE.' HE THEN DESCENDED TO LOW LEVEL, HIGH SPEED FLIGHT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE DISPATCHER CALLED. THE PILOT CLIMBED TO GIVE A POSITION REPORT, THEN DOVE BACK TO LOW LEVEL FLIGHT. SOON THEREAFTER, THE HELICOPTER STRUCK A POWER LINE, WENT OUT OF CONTROL, AND CRASHED. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THEY ALSO SAW THE HELICOPTER AT LOW ALTITUDE AND HIGH SPEED BEFORE IT STRUCK THE POWER LINE.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,234 hours in all; 1,123 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 8,323 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,699 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 26, 1994; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,512 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Tallahassee FL at 3:36 pm
- Destination: FL
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from THL, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.