No fatalities

BELL OH-58A accident at Holtville, CA, 9 Nov 2021

Holtville, CA, United States

On November 9, 2021, a BELL OH-58A operated by Farm Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Holtville, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control after becoming spatially disoriented when the helicopter entered low-level haze/fog. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control after becoming spatially disoriented when the helicopter entered low-level haze/fog.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

PilotEffect on operation

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 9 Nov 2021 BELL OH-58A accident near Holtville, CA?

The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control after becoming spatially disoriented when the helicopter entered low-level haze/fog.

Were there any fatalities in the 9 Nov 2021 BELL OH-58A accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 9 Nov 2021 involved a BELL OH-58A, operated by Farm Aviation, at Holtville, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control after becoming spatially disoriented when the helicopter entered low-level haze/fog.