- Date
- April 14, 1986, 11:32 local (16:32 UTC)
- Place
- Holliston, MA
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 2 minor
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N302MCBell 206L-3N52118Cessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19860414014352A19860414014351A
- Case key
- 7216
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The Cessna 172 and a bell 206L collided at 2,000 feet over Holliston, MA. Both aircraft were operating under visual flight rules with no flight plan or communications established with air traffic control. According to witnesses, the bell was traveling in a north-northeasterly direction and the Cessna was on a norteasterly heading. The Cessna pilot stated he was in the process of initiating a right turn when the collision occurred and that he never saw the helicopter not any other traffic prior to impact. The Cessna had departed hopedale airport approximately 5 minutes prior to the accident. Inspection revealed rotor blade slash marks in the Cessna's lower left engine cowling. The helicopter descended uncontrolled to terrain impact after the collision and the Cessna was force landed in a field.
The bell 206L and a Cessna 172 collided at 2,000 feet over Holliston, MA. Both aircraft were operating under visual flight rule with no flight plan filed or communications established with air traffic control. According to witnesses, the bell was traveling in a north-northeasterly direction and the Cessna was on a northeasterly heading. The Cessna pilot stated he was in the process of initiating a right turn when the collision occurred and that he never saw the helicopter nor any other traffic prior to impact. The Cessna had departed hopedale airport approximately 5 minutes prior to the accident. Inspection revealed rotor blade slash marks in the Cessna's lower left engine cowling. The helicopter descended uncontrolled to terrain impact after the collision and the Cessna was force landed in a field.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N302MC
- Reported as
- Bell 206L-3
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 51119
- Airframe hours
- 788
- Engine
- Allison 250-C30P, 650 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive/Corporate · Part 91
- Operator
- Millipore Corpopation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · February 27, 1986 · 88 hours before
- Departed
- Millford, MA
- Destination
- Bedford, MA
- Registration
- N52118
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17274417
- Airframe hours
- 2,327
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Charles A. Mitchell
- Registered owner
- D & G Flyging Academy
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · March 10, 1986 · 35 hours before
- Departed
- Hopedale, MS
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N302MC
- Age
- 49
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 12,500 total · 730 in this make and model
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N52118
- Age
- 39
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 72 total · 8 in this make and model · 21 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.