Bell 407 accident near Flagstaff, AZ
On June 29, 2008, a Bell 407 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Flagstaff, AZ. 7 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 29, 2008
- Place
- Flagstaff, AZ
- Aircraft
- Bell 407 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 7 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.201°N, 111.634°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080715X01051
NTSB summary
"THIS CASE WAS MODIFIED MAY 29, 2009." HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 29, 2008, at 1547 mountain standard time, a Bell 407 emergency medical service (EMS) helicopter, N407GA, and a Bell 407 EMS helicopter, N407MJ, collided in mid air while approaching the Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC) helipad (3AZ0), Flagstaff, Arizona. Both helicopters were destroyed. N407GA's commercial pilot, flight nurse, and patient sustained fatal injuries; and N407MJ's commercial pilot, flight paramedic, flight nurse, and patient sustained fatal injuries. N407GA was operated by Air Methods Corporation, Englewood, Colorado, and registered to FMC, Flagstaff, Arizona. N407MJ was operated by Classic Helicopter Services, Page, Arizona, and registered to M&J Leisure, L.L.C., Ogden, Utah. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight plans were filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air medical flights. N407GA's flight departed Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG), Flagstaff, Arizona, at 1544, and N407MJ's flight departed the Grand Canyon National Park Service South Rim helibase, Tusayan, Arizona, at 1517. Audio recordings were obtained from Classic's communications center (Classic Control), Guardian Control, FMC, and the FLG Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT). At 1516, the pilot for the Air Methods helicopter, N407GA, call sign Angel 1, contacted Guardian Control via aircraft radios and reported that they were departing Winslow, Arizona, with four people on board; the pilot, two flight nurses, and a patient. The pilot stated that his estimated time en route was 25 minutes and he was ei
Probable cause
Both helicopter pilots’ failure to see and avoid the other helicopter on approach to the helipad. Contributing to the accident were the failure of N407GA’s pilot to follow flight arrival route guidelines, and the failure of N407MJ’s pilot to follow communications guidelines requiring him to report his position within a minimum of 5 miles from the helipad.
More accidents in AZ
- De Havilland DHC-6-300, Sep 27, 1989
- Cessna 402C, Jun 19, 1992
- Piper PA-31-350, Aug 17, 1983
- Piper PA-31-350, Feb 13, 1995
- Cessna 421C, Sep 2, 1995
Browse: Arizona · Bell aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
