Bell 206 L-1 accident near Salt Lake City, Utah, February 26, 1994
On February 26, 1994 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Bell 206 L-1 (helicopter), registered N2752U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salt Lake City, Utah. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A LANDING SITE. FACTORS INCLUDE SNOW COVERED TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 26, 1994 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Salt Lake City, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 L-1 · all 206 L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N2752U · registry record · serial 45258
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SOON AFTER LANDING ON THE SNOW COVERED RIDGE TO PICK UP SOME SKIERS, THE PILOT BECAME UNCOMFORTABLE WITH HIS SELECTED LANDING SITE. HE THEREFORE ATTEMPTED TO INITIATE A TAKEOFF, SO AS TO RELOCATE TO A MORE SUITABLE LOCATION. AS HE BEGAN HIS LIFT-OFF, THE SNOW PACK AT THE LANDING SITE BROKE LOOSE FROM THE RIDGE. AS THE SNOW PACK GAVE WAY, THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM IMPACTED THE TERRAIN, AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED DOWN THE HILL SIDE FOR ABOUT 800 FEET.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,248 hours in all; 2,948 in this make and model; 74 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 3,141 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,452 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 18, 1994; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C30P (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTF Bountiful UT at 6:00 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 14,000 ft; not recorded at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA94LA073.