Eurocopter AS-350B-2 accident near Juneau, Alaska, September 11, 1999
On September 11, 1999, a Eurocopter AS-350B-2 (helicopter), registered N6099Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Juneau, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were 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 altitude/clearance. Factors associated with the accident were flat light conditions, snow-covered terrain, and self-induced pressure to continue the search.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 1999
- Place
- Juneau, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS-350B-2 · all AS-350B-2s on the register
- Registration
- N6099Y · no longer on the register · serial 2847
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial helicopter pilot, with one passenger aboard, was en route from Petersburg to Juneau, when he was requested to join a search for an overdue company helicopter (N6007S). He said that just after entering the search area, he received a radio transmission from another company helicopter (N6052C), who was also involved in the search. The pilot of N6052C informed him that he had crashed on the ice field, and required assistance. The pilot of N6099Y stated that poor weather conditions in the vicinity N6052C would not allow the him to land, so he elected to return to the airport for fuel, and wait for better weather conditions. After refueling, he returned to the accident site of N6052C, where weather conditions had improved. After landing, the uninjured pilot and passenger boarded N6099Y, and all aboard agreed to continue the search for N6007S. The pilot of N6099Y stated that he was able to locate the downed helicopter about two miles directly in front of his location. He said that he slowed the helicopter to about 30 knots in an attempt to gain reference using a mountain range on the left side of the helicopter, and the accident site of N6007S. He said: 'The ceiling at my location was at least 1,000 feet agl, and visibility towards 07S was more than six miles. Just before the impact, I was sure I was at least 500 feet agl.' The pilot added that 'flat light conditions' hampered his ability to see the topographical features of the ice field below. The helicopter struck the snow-covered ice field, slid about 50 feet, nosed over, and rolled to the left. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and rotor system. The accident helicopter was not equipped with a radar altimeter.
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: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,100 hours in all; 1,250 in this make and model; 213 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,063 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 15, 1999; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,961 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL 1D1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JUN AK at 6:30 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; scat at 200 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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 N6099Y 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.