Bell 206B accident near Salt Lake City, Utah, November 8, 1991
On November 8, 1991 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N5736B, was destroyed in an accident near Salt Lake City, Utah (Salt Lake City airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQAUTE REMEDIAL ACTION, OVER CONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY, AND LACK OF RECENT EXPEREINCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 1991 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Salt Lake City, Utah · Salt Lake City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5736B · no longer on the register · serial 3033
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FLIGHT, THE HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF FROM THE PARKING RAMP AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN SPINNING AS IT ASCENDED TO AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT AT THE PEAK OF THE CLIMB, THE RATE OF ROTATION SLOWED AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN A RAPID DESCENT. PITCH ANGLE DIFFERENCES IN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, ALONG WITH A DECREASE IN THE MAIN ROTOR ROTATION, WERE NOTICED. THE HELICOPTER'S PITCH ANGLE (NOSE UP AND NOSE DOWN) WAS ERRATIC. JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT, THE HELICOPTER STABILIZED AND WAS NOT ROTATING WHEN IT IMPACTED ON THE RAMP A FEW HUNDRED YARDS FROM THE TAKEOFF POINT. THE HELICOPTER WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES UPON IMPACT. SOME OF THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS SPINNING TO THE LEFT, WHILE OTHERS REPORTED THAT IT WAS SPINNING TO THE RIGHT.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 77 hours in all; 77 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.