Hughes OH-6A N345SD
22 June 2002 · Central, Alaska, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 22 June 2002 at about 07:19 local time, a Hughes OH-6A registered N345SD was involved in an accident near Central, Alaska, United States. 4 people were on board and one died, 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 07:19
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Central, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 65.5019, -145.3861
- Aircraft
- Hughes OH-6A
- Registration
- N345SD
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Eagle Summit → Circle Hot Spng
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC02FA057
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's intentional flight into adverse weather conditions, and his failure to maintain altitude/clearance, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were the snow and whiteout weather conditions.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The helicopter was flown to a mountain summit to deliver the bride and groom for a summer solstice wedding. The approach to the summit was made in weather conditions of 10 miles visibility, about 8,000 feet ceiling, and gusty winds. Soon after arrival, deteriorating weather was seen approaching from the northwest. The wedding was performed about 2319 during daylight hours. During the ceremony, it began to snow. The ceremony was concluded quickly due to the weather. A video tape provided by a witness showed the helicopter depart the summit in weather conditions of high winds, sky obscured by blowing snow, and visibility of less than 100 feet. The helicopter collided with terrain less than one-half mile from the departure point. A postaccident inspection of the helicopter disclosed no evidence of mechanical problems, and that the engine was running at the time of the accident.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes OH-6A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Nov 2002 | Hughes OH-6A | Snohomish, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 May 2002 | Hughes OH-6A | Angola, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 Apr 2002 | Hughes OH-6A | Tampa, Florida, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Jan 2002 | Hughes OH-6A | Tampa, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Nov 2003 | Hughes OH-6A | Greenville, South Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 May 2003 | Hughes OH 6A | Pan Tak, Arizona, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jun 2002 | Piper PA-18 | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States | Uriah Strong | No injuries | - |
| 8 Aug 2002 | Williamson GLASTAR | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Sep 2002 | Cessna 180 | Tenakee Springs, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Sep 2002 | De Havilland DHC-2 | Bethel, Alaska, United States | Ptarmigan Air | No injuries | - |
| 17 Mar 2002 | McDonnell Douglas MD-82 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Alaska Airlines, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jul 2002 | De Havilland DHC-2 | Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States | Minta Inc | Fatal | 4 |