Commodore Heliport

The direct cause for the closure was a catastrophic accident. On May 22, 1966, a Bell 47G-2 helicopter operated by Commodore Helicopters experienced a main rotor blade failure and crashed into the bay immediately after takeoff. The pilot and two passengers were killed. This tragic event, coupled with the subsequent investigation and public scrutiny, led to the permanent cessation of operations.

The site of the former heliport is now fully integrated into the Pier 45 complex. The specific area where the helipad was located is now a large public parking lot that serves the numerous tourist attractions on the pier, including the Musée Mécanique, the historic warships USS Pampanito (a submarine) and the SS Jeremiah O'Brien (a Liberty ship), and various seafood restaurants. There are no physical traces or memorials of the heliport at the location.

Commodore Heliport was a commercial heliport strategically located on Pier 45 at San Francisco's iconic Fisherman's Wharf. During its period of operation in the mid-1960s, it was a highly visible part of the tourist landscape. Its primary function was to provide helicopter sightseeing tours, offering visitors aerial views of key landmarks such as Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the city skyline. The operator, Commodore Helicopters, capitalized on the heavy foot traffic in the area to sell flights to tourists.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening a heliport at this site. The location is now extremely high-value real estate dedicated to tourism and commercial activities. Any proposal to re-establish an aviation facility here would face insurmountable obstacles, including prohibitive costs, significant safety concerns in a densely crowded area, extreme community opposition due to noise, and the negative historical precedent of the 1966 fatal accident.