Enstrom F-28F accident near Anchorage, Alaska, September 5, 1987
On September 5, 1987 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Enstrom F-28F (helicopter), registered N8622A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Campbell Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1987 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Campbell Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F-28F · all F-28Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8622A · no longer on the register · serial 714
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE HELICOPTER WAS SEEN FLYING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET AGL DOWN THE LENGTH OF A PRIVATE GRAVEL AIRSTRIP NEAR ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. A NEARBY JOGGER SAID THAT THE PILOT APPEARED TO WAVE AT HIM AS HE FLEW PAST AND THEN HE HEARD THE HELICOPTER CRASH SEVERAL SECONDS LATER. THE HELICOPTER STRUCK A TREE WITH ITS MAIN ROTOR BLADE 16'4' ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT, A LOCAL PHYSICIAN, HAD ACCUMULATED APPROXIMATELY 14 HOURS IN THE ENSTROM F-28F OVER THE PRECEEDING 3 YEARS. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THIS WAS HIS FIRST FLIGHT, OTHER THAN A SHORT FERRY FLIGHT, SINCE THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN PLACED IN STORAGE 10 MONTHS EARLIER.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 604 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 416 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 14, 1987; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360FIAD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ANC Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 37°F (3°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.