Hughes 369D accident near George Inlet, Alaska, September 25, 1992
On September 25, 1992 at about 5:54 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N58315, was substantially damaged in an accident near George Inlet, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN FLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE DURING THE TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CALM WATER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 1992 · about 5:54 pm local time
- Place
- George Inlet, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N58315 · no longer on the register · serial 490495D
- 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
WHILE FLYING ALONG A SHORELINE AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET AGL, A PASSENGER ASK THE PILOT TO FLY IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE PILOT TURNED TOWARD THE OPEN GLASSY WATER. DURING THE TURN THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED AND IMPACTED THE WATER.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,602 hours in all; 3,263 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 84 in the last 30 days; 5,671 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,516 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 19, 1992; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Temsco Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 9C0 Ketchikan AK at 12:14 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KTN, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.