# NTSB DCA86AA028: de Havilland DHC-6-300, N76GC, Grand Canyon, AZ, June 18, 1986 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report - Date: June 18, 1986, 09:33 local (16:33 UTC) - Place: Grand Canyon, AZ - Location: 36.0544° N, 112.1393° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Grand Canyon, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0544&lon=-112.1393&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 25 fatal - Status: Completed, report March 7, 1988 - Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 15855 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA86AA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15855/pdf - Board report AAR8703 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8703.pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA86AA028 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, maneuvering - procedures/directives - inadequate (contributing factor) - pressure induced by others, other government personnel (contributing factor) - inadequate surveillance,inadequate procedure, faa(organization) (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, maneuvering - procedures/directives - inadequate (contributing factor) - pressure induced by others, other government personnel (contributing factor) - inadequate surveillance,inadequate procedure, faa(organization) (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) AT ABOUT 0933 MST, DEHAVILLAND DHC-6, N76GC, (OWNED & OPERATED BY CANYON AIRLINES) & BELL 206B, N6TC, (OPERATED BY HELITECK) COLLIDED WHILE ON SIGHTSEEING FLTS OVER THE GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK. AFTER COLLIDING IN FLT, BOTH ACFT CRASHED & BURNED IN THE TONTO PLATEAU/CRYSTAL RAPIDS AREA. DRG THE INV, NO REASON WAS FND TO EXPLAIN WHY NEITHER FLT CREW WAS ABLE TO SEE & AVOID THE OTHER ACFT. THE ACDNT OCCURRED IN AN AREA WHERE THE DHC-6 MAY HAVE BEEN IN A TURN. THE BELL 206B WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN INTERCOM OR PUBLIC ADDRESS SYS TO COMMUNICATE WITH PASSENGERS; THUS, THE PLT MAY HAVEPERIODICALLY TURNED HIS HEAD DRG FLT TO NARRATE THE TOUR. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE FAA FAILED TO EXERCISE ITS OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY OVR FLT OPNS IN THE GRAND CANYON AIRSPACE & THAT THE NATIONAL PARK SVC INFLUENCED THE SELECTION OF ROUTESBY THE SCENIC OPERATORS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE MODIFICATION & CONFIGURATION OF THE ROTARY-WING ROUTES RESULTED IN THEIR INTERSECTING WITH THE ROUTES OF GRAND CANYON AIRLINES NEAR CRYSTAL RAPIDS. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N76GC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N76GC-1994-07-19), registration cancelled 1994-07-19, S/N 248 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-6-300 - Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-6-twin-otter) (registry code 2802606) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 248 - Airframe hours: 30569 - Engines: P&W PT6A-27 715 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Grand Canyon Helicopter - Registered owner: Grand Canyon Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Transport - Departed: GCN, GRAND CANYON, AZ ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N6TC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6TC-2014-10-06), registration cancelled 2014-10-06, S/N 3114 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3114 - Airframe hours: 608 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Helitech Inc. - Registered owner: Six Tc Corp. - Departed: TUSAYAN, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N76GC; age 27; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,970 total, 1,556 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 290 in the last 90 days, 111 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N6TC; age 39; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,954 total, 164 in the last 90 days, 68 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 36 °F - Observed at: GCN, 10 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19860618087022A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860618087022A), Jun 18, 1986: Dhav DHC6300, Grand Canyon, AZ, Destroyed, 18 fatal. The DHC6 was struck in the left rear fuselage by bell 206B N6TC. Both sightseeing aircraft crashed and burned. - [Accident 19860618087021A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860618087021A), Jun 18, 1986: Bell 206B, Grand Canyon, AZ, Destroyed, 4 fatal. The Bell 206B struck the left rear fuselage of DHC6 N76GC. Both sightseeing aircraft crashed and burned. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.