# NTSB OAK70D0160: Bell 47G3B1, N3096G, Bishop, CA, October 7, 1969

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: October 7, 1969
- Place: Bishop, CA · BISHOP, CA
- Location: 37.3672° N, 118.3989° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bishop, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3672&lon=-118.3989&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 1970
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 159554
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK70D0160
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK70D0160

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2792   69/10/7 NR.BISHOP,CALIF       BELL 47G3B1         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 41, 4545
        TIME - 1005                    N3096G              PX-  0  0  2  OTHER                     TOTAL HOURS, 1110 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MCCLURE MEADOW              DUSEY BASIN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: BLOWER,IMPELLER ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        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
          HAZE                                                      70
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           90                                                       4
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PARK PATROL. DENSITY ALT APRXLY 12500 FT. ACFT FELL INTO SMALL STREAM WENT OVER WATERFALL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3096G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3096G-2025-07-16), registration cancelled 2025-07-16, S/N 3376, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TVO-435-GIA](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (registry code 41526, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## Other investigations on N3096G (2)

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.

- [NTSB OAK72DVA91](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72DVA91), Jun 29, 1972: Bell 47G3B1 (N3096G), Springville, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB MIA69F0313](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA69F0313), Jan 16, 1969: Bell 47G (N3096G), Jackson, MS, substantial damage

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.

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