Bell 214B accident near Near Randle, Washington, December 18, 1982
On December 18, 1982 at about 10:00 am local time, a Bell 214B (helicopter), registered N244PH, was destroyed in an accident near Near Randle, Washington. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- December 18, 1982 · about 10:00 am local time
- Place
- Near Randle, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 214B · all 214Bs on the register
- Registration
- N244PH · no longer on the register · serial 28061
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DEPARTED A PRIVATE HELIPORT & IMPACTED A MOUNTAIN AT THE 3,400 FT LEVEL. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ABOUT ONE MILE EAST FROM THE HELIPORT. THE IMPACT SITE WAS HIDDEN BEHIND A RIDGE & IS NOT VISIBLE FROM THE HELIPORT OR THE ACCESS ROAD TO THE HELIPORT. THE IMPACT AREA WAS COVERED BY FRESH SNOW. THE STEEP SLOPE, ABOUT 80 DEG, WAS CRISSCROSSED BY FALLEN TIMBER & MANY TREE STUMPS. ALTHOUGH STARS WERE VISIBLE AT THE HELIPORT, FOG WAS OBSERVED IN THE MOUNTAINS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,331 hours in all; 73 in the last 90 days; 7,950 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,214 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 16,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T5508-D (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Near Randle WA at 2:00 am
- Destination: Carson City NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.