Mbb GMBO-105C accident near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1985
On July 6, 1985 at about 5:20 am local time, a Mbb GMBO-105C (helicopter), registered N83CJ, was destroyed in an accident near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1985 · about 5:20 am local time
- Place
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mbb GMBO-105C
- Registration
- N83CJ · no longer on the register · serial S187
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIR AMBULANCE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND ROLLED OVER AFTER COLLIDDING WITH A FENCE. THE HELICOPTER HAD TAKEN OFF TO A HOVER POSITION AND WAS MAKING A PEDAL TURN IN PREPARATION FOR A CLIMB. COLLECTIVE WAS INCREASED BUT RPM DECREASED AND THE ACFT BEGAN TO DESCEND. GROUND CONTACT AND COLLISION WITH THE FENCE FOLLOWED.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,220 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 2,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,067 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 4, 1985; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,629 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-C2OB (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Corporate Jet,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: Mercy Hosp. PA at 5:20 am
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.