Bell 206B accident near Noman'S Land, Massachusetts, May 23, 1986
On May 23, 1986, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N2776V, was destroyed in an accident near Noman'S Land, Massachusetts. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91, subpart F). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- May 23, 1986
- Place
- Noman'S Land, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2776V · no longer on the register · serial 2792
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91, subpart F)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BELL 206 HELICOPTER WAS EN ROUTE TO NANTOCKET ISLAND WHEN THE PILOT RECEIVED AN INFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING WITH VFR FLIGHT NOT RECOMMENDED. THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS REPORT AND IT APPEARS HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT. THE ACFT DID NOT REACH IT'S FINAL DESTINATION. THE HELICOPTER WAS RECOVERED ON 6/20/86, 40 NAUTICAL MILES FROM IT'S DESTINATION IN 147 DEEP OPEN SEA.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,180 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,776 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 21, 1985; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C2OJ (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Stamford CT at 4:35 pm
- Destination: ACK Nantucket MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:19 pm from BDR
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.