Hughes 369D accident near Kitoi Bay, Alaska, July 9, 1988
On July 9, 1988 at about 4:35 am local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N1089D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kitoi Bay, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- July 9, 1988 · about 4:35 am local time
- Place
- Kitoi Bay, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N1089D · registry record · serial 510966D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER LANDED WITH THE LEFT SKID AGAINST A SURVEY STAKE WHICH PROTRUDED FROM THE GROUND ABOUT 6 INCHES. UPON LIFTOFF THE SKID DID NOT CLEAR THE METAL STAKE BEFORE THE HELICOPTER STARTED MOVING LATERALLY TO THE LEFT. THE LEFT SKID REMAINED AGAINST THE METAL STAKE AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON TO ITS LEFT SIDE. THE PILOT STATED LATER THAT THE LATERAL TRIM MOTOR HAD FAILED REQUIRING 35 POUNDS OF PRESSURE TO THE RIGHT AGAINST THE CYCLIC WHILE AT A HOVER.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,218 hours in all; 2,622 in this make and model; 223 in the last 90 days; 141 in the last 30 days; 3,531 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,669 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 7, 1988; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:49 pm from ODK, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N1089D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.