Mcdonnell Douglas 500D accident near Delta Junction, Alaska, July 28, 2005
On July 28, 2005 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas 500D (helicopter), registered CGBUY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delta Junction, Alaska. It was a public-use flight (federal) 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 failure to maintain clearance from trees during the approach to landing, which resulted in the main rotor blades striking a tree. A factor associated with the accident was the tree.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 2005 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Delta Junction, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas 500D
- Registration
- CGBUY · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (federal) · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport certificated pilot, flying in support of a public use operation, landed the helicopter at an off-airport site to pickup two passengers. After takeoff, the passengers told the pilot that the main rotor blades contacted a small tree during landing. Upon landing at his destination, the pilot inspected the blades, and found dents/scratches in the bottom skins of the blades. The blades were determined to be damaged beyond repair.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,358 hours in all; 2,680 in this make and model; 12,548 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,460 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 2005; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison C-20-B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: U. S. Department Of The Interior
The flight
- Departed from: Last Chance AK at 3:30 pm
- Destination: Delta Junction AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 1.5 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
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.