Mcdonnell Douglas MD369D and Cessna 185 mid-air collision near Healy, Alaska, August 4, 1996
On August 4, 1996 at about 6:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Mcdonnell Douglas MD369D (N58269) and Cessna 185 (N5246E), were involved in a mid-air collision near Healy, Alaska. 4 people had minor injuries; 5 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate visual outlook by the pilots of both aircraft, and their failure to see and avoid the other aircraft. A factor associated with the accident was sunglare affecting the helicopter pilot's vision.
The inadequate visual outlook by the pilots of both aircraft, and their failure to see and avoid the other aircraft. A factor associated with the accident was sunglare affecting the helicopter pilot's vision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1996 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Healy, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries; 5 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Mcdonnell Douglas MD369D
- Registration
- N58269 · no longer on the register · serial 0421D
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N5246E · no longer on the register · serial 18503943
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Mcdonnell Douglas MD369D final · quoted from the NTSB record
The McDonnell Douglas MD-369 helicopter, N58269, was flying in an easterly direction about 400 feet msl. The pilot said he was looking for potential landing sites which would allow the passengers/geologists to explore nearby rock formations. The pilot looked up and saw an airplane head-on an instant before impact. The helicopter's tailrotor drive shaft was severed in the impact, and the helicopter soon begin to spin. The pilot was able to make a partially controlled emergency landing in brushy terrain. The helicopter pilot said prior to impact with the airplane, his forward vision was partially restricted due to sun glare. The Cessna 185, N5246E, was flying in a westerly direction. The pilot said he saw the helicopter when it was slightly below, and directly in front of him. He said he just had a moment to pull back on the control wheel and try to turn left. He felt an impact, and later discovered the helicopter's tailrotor had damaged the airplane's lower fuselage, and knocked the tailwheel off. He was able to continue to his destination and made an uneventful landing.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 185 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The McDonnell Douglas MD-369 helicopter, N58269, was flying in an easterly direction about 400 feet msl. The pilot said he was looking for potential landing sites which would allow the passengers/geologists to explore nearby rock formations. The pilot looked up and saw an airplane head-on an instant before impact. The helicopter's tailrotor drive shaft was severed in the impact, and the helicopter soon begin to spin. The pilot was able to make a partially controlled emergency landing in brushy terrain. The helicopter pilot said prior to impact with the airplane, his forward vision was partially restricted due to sun glare. The Cessna 185, N5246E, was flying in a westerly direction. The pilot said he saw the helicopter when it was slightly below, and directly in front of him. He said he just had a moment to pull back on the control wheel and try to turn left. He felt an impact, and later discovered the helicopter's tailrotor had damaged the airplane's lower fuselage, and knocked the tailwheel off. He was able to continue to his destination and made an uneventful landing.
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 for the Mcdonnell Douglas MD369D from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 93 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days; 9,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,310 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 31, 1996; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison A250C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tundra Copters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: HRR at 1:05 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
The factual record for the Cessna 185 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,400 hours in all; 2,300 in this make and model; 275 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 3,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,675 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 26, 1996; 103 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.