Bell 206B3 accident near Brigham City, Utah, January 24, 1993
On January 24, 1993 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Bell 206B3 (helicopter), registered N39088, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brigham City, Utah (Brigham City airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOCATION OF UNMARKED ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION WIRES OVER A DESIGNATED AIRPORT TAXIWAY. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPECTANCY TO ENCOUNTER WIRES ABOVE AN ARPT TAXIWAY, AND HIS DIVERTED ATTENTION DUE TO THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE TAXIWAY TO BUILDINGS AND THE LOOSE DRY SNOW ON THE AIRPORT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 24, 1993 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Brigham City, Utah · Brigham City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B3 · all 206B3s on the register
- Registration
- N39088 · no longer on the register · serial 3277
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LANDED ON THE AIRPORT RAMP TO REFUEL AND DETERMINED THE PUBLIC FUEL SERVICE FACILITY WAS NOT OPERATING. HE ARRANGED TO PURCHASE FUEL FROM A PRIVATE OPR AND WAS HOVER TAXIING ABOUT 400 FEET FROM THE RAMP TO A PRIVATE HANGER WHEN THE ACFT IMPACTED UNMARKED ELECTRICAL POWER LINES 30 FT ABOVE A DESIGNATED TAXIWAY. THE ACFT IMPACTED ON THE TAXIWAY IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AND ROLLED OVER. THE TAXIWAY, LOCATED BESIDE A HANGER, AND THE RAMP WERE COVERED WITH LOOSE DRY SNOW. THE WX WAS DARK OVERCAST SKIES AND LIMITED VISIBILITY.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,623 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 3,532 as pilot in command; 773 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 405 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 18, 1993; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 25°F (-4°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.