Garlick UH-1B/204 accident near Fossil, Oregon, June 24, 1983
On June 24, 1983 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Garlick UH-1B/204 (helicopter), registered N5598G, was destroyed in an accident near Fossil, Oregon. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- June 24, 1983 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fossil, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Garlick UH-1B/204
- Registration
- N5598G · registry record · serial 63-12916
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A DEAD TREE AND CRASHED WHILE CONDUCTING A SPRAY RUN ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION MISSION. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE DAWN LIGHT CONDITIONS MADE THE OBTACLE HARD TO SEE. IN THE ATTEMPT TO CLEAR THE TREE THE SPRAY BOOM MADE CONTACT AND BROKE OFF. PART OF THE BOOM WENT INTO THE ROTOR AND THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED INTO STANDING TIMBER AND CRASHED ON ITS NOSE AND RT SIDE. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.
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: 4,102 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days; 3,670 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,380 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 22, 1983; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T53 L 11D (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.