Sikorsky S-61L accident near Medford, Oregon, February 5, 1984
On February 5, 1984 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Sikorsky S-61L (helicopter), registered N6981R, was destroyed in an accident near Medford, Oregon (Medford-Jackson County airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- February 5, 1984 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Medford, Oregon · Medford-Jackson County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-61L · all S-61Ls on the register
- Registration
- N6981R · no longer on the register · serial 61453
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT DEVIATED FROM THE PAINTED TAXI LINE TO AVOID A PARKED FUEL TRUCK AND COLLIDED WITH A HANGAR DOOR. THE MAIN ROTOR HIT THE DOOR AND FLYING DEBRIS DAMAGED 2 HANGERS,3 ACFT AND 2 CARS.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 9,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,813 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 2, 1984; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 22,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ge CT58-140 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 18,000 ft; not recorded at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from MFR, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.