# NTSB DEN66A0059: Bell 47G-3, N6785D, Tres Piedras, NM, February 23, 1966

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: February 23, 1966
- Place: Tres Piedras, NM · TRES PIEDRAS, NM
- Location: 36.6470° N, 105.9672° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tres Piedras, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6470&lon=-105.9672&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 11, 1966
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 174068
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN66A0059
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN66A0059

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-0039  66/2/23    TRES PIEDRAS NMEX   BELL 47G-3          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 31, 405
        TIME - 1045                    N6785D              PX-  0  0  2  AERIAL SURVEY             TOTAL HOURS, 105 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: POWER-ON DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      40
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          270                                                       4
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6785D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-3
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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.
