Bell 47G-3B-1 accident near Overton, Nevada, March 17, 1986
On March 17, 1986 at about 2:00 am local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 (helicopter), registered N3067G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Overton, Nevada (Overton Muni airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 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
- March 17, 1986 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Overton, Nevada · Overton Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B-1 · all 47G-3B-1s on the register
- Registration
- N3067G · no longer on the register · serial 2915
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NONCERTIFICATED PLT RPRTD THAT HE HAD REPAIRED THE HELICOPTER, THEN PROCEEDED TO MAKE A LOCAL TEST FLT. HE RPRTD THAT HE TOOK OFF IN DARKNESS AFTER HAVING A FEW BEERS. THE PLT CHOSE TO TURN OFF THE LANDING LIGHT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. WHILE AT LOW ALTITUDE NEAR THE ARPT, THE HELICOPTER STRUCK POWER LINES, THEN DSCNDD & HIT THE GROUND. THE PLT HELD A STUDENT PLT CERTIFICATE WHICH HAD EXPIRED.
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: student
- Flight time: 115 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 115 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,600 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TVO-435-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U08 Overton NV at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.