Eurocopter AS 350 BA accident near Skagway, Alaska, September 9, 2001
On September 9, 2001 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Eurocopter AS 350 BA (helicopter), registered N60809, was substantially damaged in an accident near Skagway, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's misjudged flare while landing. Factors associated with the accident were whiteout conditions, and snow-covered terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2001 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Skagway, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS 350 BA · all AS 350 BAs on the register
- Registration
- N60809 · registry record · serial 2696
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated commercial pilot was attempting to land at a remote tourist camp located at the 4,000 feet level of remote glacier. The day before the accident, the area had received about 6 inches of very light, powder snow. As the pilot hovered the helicopter toward the landing area, he became disoriented in whiteout conditions, and lost all visual reference due to blowing snow. As the helicopter drifted to the right, the right skid struck the snow, and the helicopter rolled onto its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and drive train components.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,903 hours in all; 357 in this make and model; 311 in the last 90 days; 107 in the last 30 days; 1,424 as pilot in command; 350 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 27, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,949.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 23, 2001; 19.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,630 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Aeriel (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SGY Skagway AK at 1:40 pm
- Destination: SGY Skagway AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.